On October 2 , and is expected to miss two to three weeks. Head coach Jason Kidd confirmed the news on Wednesday, which also made it unclear whether Gafford could catch up with the opening game against the Spurs on October 22.

Gafford's season was already overdue due to injury. He suffered a grade 3 sprain of the medial collateral ligament of his right knee and missed the last two months of the game. This ankle injury has made the team more cautious about his health.

Since joining Dallas before the 2023 trade deadline, Gafford has averaged 11.9 points, 6.8 rebounds and 1.8 blocks per game, shooting 72.7% from the field and taking turns with rookie Derek Lively II as the starting center. This summer, he signed a three-year, $54 million contract extension with the Mavericks and is expected to be a stable pillar in the team's interior.

For the Mavericks, who are aiming for a breakthrough in the new season, whether the inside rotation can remain healthy will directly affect the team's opening performance.