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NBA fans react after Daniel Gafford falls short of breaking 57 year-old Wilt Chamberlain record

Published March 15, 2024, 5:10 PMNBA.com Philippines Staff
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Having your name mentioned alongside basketball great Wilt Chamberlain? Not a bad consolation for Daniel Gafford.

Daniel Gafford is averaging 11 points, seven rebounds, and two blocks this season for the Dallas Mavericks.

Entering an important road match against the West-leading Oklahoma City Thunder, Daniel Gafford had a shot at NBA history.

The five-year pro out of Arkansas was on a historic stretch, hitting 33 of his last 33 shots. It was two field goals away from tying Wilt Chamberlain’s record of 35 straight back in 1967.

Well, 32 seconds into the game, Gafford’s unbelievable streak ended.

The Mavericks’ big man missed for the first time in five games, failing to clean up a Donte Exum drive after getting the offensive rebound.

The Mavericks, playing without superstar Luka Doncic, eventually succumbed to the red-hot Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led-Thunder squad, 126-119. 

With this, the NBA fans in social media went frenzy with an array of interesting comments regarding Gafford’s streak coming to a close.

“DANIEL GAFFORD NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO,” Atolani tweeted.

@Rojas_Trew4’s reaction is probably all the Mavericks fans who witnessed that Gafford miss, don’t you think?

DJ Martinez summed up what all of the fans are probably feeling with some short,simple words.

“That’s a tough way to end it too…” he said.

However, some fans acknowledged Gafford’s improbable feat despite falling short. A rebounding menace and vicious shot blocker, Gafford can still start a new streak. But at least, he has the second longest consecutive made field goal streak in the league. Overall, coming close to matching a Chamberlain stat is something not a lot of players can say they've done. And guess what, Gafford’s one of them.