"It’s just dope" - Mavericks' Daniel Gafford on budding chemistry with Kyrie Irving and joining ANTA (EXCLUSIVE)

Dallas Mavericks center Daniel Gafford recently joined ANTA Basketball, strengthening a growing partnership with his teammate Kyrie Irving, the brand’s Chief Creative Officer. Averaging 12.2 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 1.6 blocks this season, Gafford has provided the Mavericks with key frontcourt contributions while emerging as a valuable presence both on and off the court.

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Mavericks' Daniel Gafford on budding chemistry with Kyrie Irving and joining ANTA (EXCLUSIVE)

Gafford has long admired Irving as one of his favorite point guards. His respect extends to the quality and creativity of Irving’s shoe designs. He sees joining ANTA as an opportunity to collaborate with Irving meaningfully.

“Kyrie was with Nike before, and I loved his shoes, like the Kyrie 1s, all the way up to the last ones he did," Gafford told Sportskeeda. "It felt right to pick up where I left off with my favorite basketball shoe and one of my favorite point guards in the game. It’s just dope to be part of the same shoe company as him.”

For Gafford, this move marks a return to familiar territory. He first experienced ANTA’s shoes while with the Washington Wizards, as recently as 2023, while wearing the ANTA Badao 2.0, and his favorable impressions of the brand have only grown since then. He has cycled through different shoes, briefly wearing New Balance before wearing Nike again, but began wearing the ANTA KAI 1 during the Mavericks' NBA Finals series against the Boston Celtics.

“Honestly, I was just trying to figure stuff out, going back and forth with Nike, just trying to have shoes in general," Gafford detailed to Sportskeeda. "I got back with ANTA, told them like, ‘Hey, man, just get them to send me some shoes.’ They talked to my agent, and we figured if we could get back with them, that’s cool. If not, it’s all good. I’m blessed to be in the position I’m in now."

Gafford's return to ANTA was a carefully considered decision, driven by his determination to rekindle a valued partnership. However, he's maintained a good relationship with the brand since being sent shoes during his Wizards tenure.

“Basically picking up where I left off when I played for Washington," Gafford detailed to Sportskeeda. "They had sent me a pair of shoes to test out in practice when they first got with me. I wore them in a game and have had a good relationship with those guys ever since. It’s been steadily growing over the years".

What made working with ANTA again even more appealing for Gafford was the chance to work closely with Irving, who has played a significant role in ANTA’s rise in the basketball market.

Gafford revealed that he expressed his interest in joining the brand directly with Irving, ultimately leading to his involvement in the collaboration.

“Whenever they got Kyrie, I put a little bug in his ear, telling him, ‘Hey, get me back home. It’d be dope.’ So they did,” Gafford told Sportskeeda.

The shoe's unveiling originally came with the announcement that Gafford and two of Irving's former teammates, Derrick Jones Jr. and Caris LeVert, had joined the company's lineup. They became the first active players signed to ANTA under Irving's guidance as Chief Creative Officer.

As an ambassador, Gafford will wear colorways from the whole KAI collection throughout the season. On Wednesday, he officially debuted the orange KAI 1 Team shoe during the Mavericks’ win over the Thunder in Oklahoma City. He previously wore the black and red colorways earlier in January.

“It naturally shows the diversity of Kyrie’s character, all the names and colorways and everything he does," Gafford explained to Sportskeeda. "It really complements his brand and what he wants to push out, his logo, his brand, his vibe, everything. That’s what I love about it."

Gafford sees Irving’s partnership with ANTA as unique and inspiring, emphasizing the creative freedom it has allowed. This partnership has led to significant success for the company, pushing the brand to the top of StockX's fastest-growing sneaker brands. The KAI 1 fueled 1,901% growth year-over-year in 2024.

"Instead of just focusing on what a company can do for you, it’s something you can build for yourself," Gafford told Sportskeeda. "And that’s exactly what he did."

Gafford and Irving have developed a strong bond as teammates off the court. Not limited to Irving, Gafford noted the importance of establishing connections within the team and the unique privilege of playing alongside elite players like Irving and Luka Doncic. Being in the position he is in now began as a childhood dream for Gafford, and he doesn't take it for granted.

“It’s gotten better as the days go by, just like with anyone else on the team," Gafford told Sportskeeda. "Trying to create bonds and chemistry and good relationships on a day-to-day basis is something I cherish. It’s not every day you get to play with some of the best athletes in the world, or hang with some of them. I cherish these moments because it’s like something I’ve always dreamed of as a kid, wondering what it’s like to hang out with guys like Kyrie or Luka. It’s just dope.”

Gafford's success in building off-court chemistry with Irving and Doncic has only helped fuel their on-court success. The Mavericks will need everything they can get from Gafford as they navigate Dereck Lively II's extended injury absence. Lively recently suffered a stress fracture in his right ankle and is expected to miss multiple months potentially.

As Gafford continues contributing to the Mavericks' success, he's excited about growing his partnership with Irving and ANTA.