Luka Doncic points out why $13,394,160 Mavericks teammate's energy is infectious

The vibes in Dallas are immaculate amid an impressive start for Luka Doncic and Co. They have a lot of continuity with the roster that made the NBA Finals last year, and they are reaping the benefits of it with a 19-10 run. Two key architects of the Mavericks' turnaround, which took shape after the 2023 trade deadline, Daniel Gafford and P.J. Washington, have played key roles in the energy shift.

During Monday's 132-108 win over the Portland Trail Blazers, Gafford was infectious with his influence on the game. Superstar Luka Doncic noted this and hailed the Mavericks' $13,394,160 big man's contributions and how he hyped the bench with his and-1 scoring opportunities in the third quarter.

"It's a big thing for everybody," Doncic told reporters. "Big thing to get the crowd involved. You know, he played really hard today. ... It gets everybody hyped and we're happy for him."

Gafford scored 23 points and five rebounds off the bench, shooting 100.0%, including 9 of 14 from the free throw line. He scored 12 in the pivotal third quarter, which helped the Mavericks secure the game well before the final whistle. Gafford made five of his 14 trips to the foul line.

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Luka Doncic reacts to Dallas Mavericks overcoming injury bug

Luka Doncic and the Dallas Mavericks were hit with an early-season injury bug. Multiple players, including Doncic, missed time. However, that didn't limit Dallas as much. The team's depth showed out in these situations, allowing the Mavericks to be in a commanding position 29 games into the season.

"Injuries gonna happen, and we got a very deep team," Doncic said. "Like I said before, everybody who steps on the court just performs well. The most important thing is we play together, we play with a next man up mentality."

The Mavericks' depth last season after the trade deadline elevated them to contender status after it seemingly felt like they were bound to land up in the play-in tournament bracket.

They have only improved with their offseason additions such as Klay Thompson, Naji Marshall, and Quentin Grimes. It has taken considerable pressure off Luka Doncic, who has missed eight games.

The Mavericks haven't been successful in his absence in the past. However, that has changed this season. The Mavericks boast a 6-2 record when Doncic is on the sidelines.