Gafford not playing in NIT disrespects teammates, coaches, UA, fans

Daniel Gafford made his decision final through Mike Anderson on Monday that he’s going to the NBA, which wasn’t a surprise.

What did raise some eyebrows was his decision to not help his team advance as far as they can in the NIT, which starts at Providence on Tuesday night at 8 p.m.

In making that call he removes himself from the protection of being a kid. He made a grown man’s decision that will provide him with a couple of million dollars … and leave his teammates still rowing a boat drawing water while he waves from the beach.

Gafford’s move is gutless, selfish and completely disrespectful not only to his teammates, but to his coaches, the University of Arkansas and the many Razorback fans that have fawned over him for the past two years.

Mike Anderson on Monday didn’t throw Gafford under the bus. No coach can do that publicly and they deal more with what is and not what could be.

“I’m supportive of what Daniel wants to do,” Anderson said Monday. “I’m supportive of what he wants to do. That’s Dan’s decision and I’m fine with it.”

Let’s be clear here … he has many that are fine with him declaring himself eligible for the NBA draft and I’m one of them. That’s not a surprise to anyone and more power to him while he spends two to three years in the development league.

The problem from this corner is not finishing what he started. It’s the same argument with players in other sports not playing in their team’s postseason games and it’s a slap in the face.

Whether he makes it in the NBA or not will be determined later by other people. It’s easy to wonder how that second contract is going to work out when you’re 6-foot-11, can’t shoot, aren’t overly impressive rebounding and has the best part of your game being dunking.

Exactly why somebody 6-11 dunking is impressive to anybody is beyond me. It’s a simple matter of physics. Standing on the floor you’re 95 percent of the way there. I could dunk with that kind of head start and my vertical leap might be six inches with a trip to the emergency room afterwards.

“He could have left last year and had an opportunity, but he came back, developed and got better and I think he’s going to be a first-round draft pick,” Anderson said. “He came here with a dream and he’s going to have an opportunity to realize it.”

Gafford issued a statement through the UA’s communications department where thanked the appropriate people and “it has been a fun ride.”

Just not enough fun to keep playing. The guess here is that playing in the NIT would bring a possible injury into the equation, which is slightly below that of getting run over by a car crossing Razorback Road.

“Growing up in this state, I dreamed about playing at the University of Arkansas,” Gafford said in the release. “It has been an honor to wear that jersey and represent this state.”

But apparently not enough to avoid a slap in the face to those who were his biggest fans.

He’ll get his money. How he projects in the pro game is a different conversation for others to have.

But his first check should be to the University of Arkansas to reimburse them for his scholarship. Others have done it to sincerely show their respect and appreciation for what the university did to get them to the next level.

In Gafford’s case, we’ll see.

But it probably wouldn’t be a good idea to count on it.