NBA most consecutive field goals made streak: Daniel Gafford comes up short of Wilt Chamberlain's all-time record

It had been a long time since Mavericks big man Daniel Gafford missed a field goal. On the doorstep of NBA history, he fell short.

Gafford entered Thursday’s primetime game against Oklahoma City just three made field goals away from surpassing Wilt Chamberlain’s 57-year-old record of 35 consecutive field goals made. Gafford’s streak spanned five games as his last missed field goal attempt came on March 3.

With history on the line, Gafford missed his first field goal attempt of the night against the Thunder.

Since being acquired by the Mavericks at the trade deadline, Gafford has enjoyed the fruits of playing alongside superstar Luka Doncic. In Gafford’s first 14 games with Dallas, he is averaging 10.6 points and 7.0 rebounds while shooting 78.0 percent from the field.

During the impressive streak, Gafford was averaging 15.0 points and 7.4 rebounds while, of course, shooting 100 percent from the field.

Here’s where Gafford’s streak stood in comparison to Wilt Chamberlain’s historic mark.

MORE: The latest on Luka Doncic’s status vs. Thunder

Most consecutive field goals made in NBA history

While play-by-play tracking did not begin until the 1996-97 season, it is known that Gafford has entered the all-time top three alongside Chamberlain, who owns the first- and third-longest streak, per Mavericks PR.

**Most consecutive field goals made, NBA history**
Rank	Player	Dates	FGM
1.	Wilt Chamberlain	2/17/1967-2/28/1967	35
2.	Daniel Gafford	3/5/2024–3/14/2024	33
3.	Wilt Chamberlain	1/18/1967-1/23/1967	32

As Gafford approached all-time history, he continued to create distance from the previous record from the modern era. Since the 1996-97 season, no other player has connected on more than 25 consecutive field goals, let alone 30.

**Most consecutive field goals made, since 1996-97 NBA season**
Rank	Player	Season	FGM
1.	Daniel Gafford	2023-24	33
2.	Derrick Favors	2019-20	22
3.	Nicolas Claxton	2021-22	21
4.	DeAndre Jordan	2012-13	20

WATCH: Mavericks vs. Thunder on Sling TV

Who is Daniel Gafford?

Gafford is a center in his fifth NBA season. He is 25 years old.

A native of El Dorado, Ark., Gafford spent two years at the University of Arkansas before entering the 2019 NBA Draft, where he was selected 38th overall by the Bulls.

In his second NBA season, Gafford was traded to the Wizards as part of a three-team trade. With Washington, Gafford set the record for the highest field goal percentage in a single playoff run (minimum 15 attempts) by shooting 22 of 26 (84.6 percent) from the field. Gafford’s record stood for two seasons before Mason Plumlee shot 14 of 16 (87.5 percent) during the 2023 NBA Playoffs.

The Wizards traded Gafford to the Mavericks on Feb. 8, 2024. In his Mavs debut, Gafford scored 19 points (on 7-of-11 shooting) and pulled down nine rebounds in 17 minutes of action.

MORE: Luka Doncic’s brilliance has turned Daniel Gafford into Wilt Chamberlain