Tony Gaffney

Anthony Gaffney Jr.
Born	(1984-11-14) November 14, 1984 Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.
Occupation(s)	Professional basketball player, basketball coach, referee
Years active	2004–2019 (player), 2021–present (coach/referee)

Anthony Joseph Gaffney Jr. (born November 14, 1984) is a retired American professional basketball athlete. During his collegiate career at the University of Massachusetts, he received multiple accolades in the 2008–09 season from the Atlantic 10 Conference, including Defensive Player of the Year, placement on the All-Defensive Team, and selection to the Second Team all-conference.

In 2021, Gaffney shifted to coaching, partnering with former UMass teammate Matt Hill as an assistant coach for the boys' basketball team at New Bedford High School. By 2023, he had progressed to officiating high school basketball games in Massachusetts as a referee.

Early life

Born on November 14, 1984, in Boston, Massachusetts, Gaffney was raised in Berkley, Massachusetts. He spent four years competing at Somerset High School, transforming a struggling 2–20 squad into the 2002 Massachusetts Division 2 South Sectional Champions with a 21–4 record. That season, he averaged 23 points, 12 rebounds, 7 assists, and an impressive 11 blocks per game. His outstanding performance earned him Eastern Athletic Conference MVP honors, All State recognition, and the title of Massachusetts Player of the Year from Rivals.com. After graduating high school, he completed a prep year at Northfield Mount Hermon School.

College career

Gaffney began his collegiate basketball journey at Boston University during the 2004–05 season, where he averaged 3.1 points and 2.9 rebounds over 15.6 minutes per game in 29 appearances. Following his sophomore year, he transferred to the University of Massachusetts, sitting out the 2006–07 season in compliance with NCAA transfer regulations. In the 2007–08 season, he contributed averages of 3.2 points and 4.8 rebounds across 33 games with approximately 20 minutes played per contest. His senior year (2008–09) marked a significant breakthrough as he posted averages of 11.5 points, 10.2 rebounds, and an impressive 3.8 blocks per game—ranking third nationally in blocks—and secured Atlantic 10 Defensive Player of the Year along with All-Defensive Team honors.

Professional career

After preparing for the 2009 NBA Draft at IMG Basketball Academy and going undrafted, Gaffney participated with the Los Angeles Lakers Summer League squad and attended their training camp but was released prior to the start of the regular season.

He subsequently signed with Israeli club Hapoel Gilboa Galil Elyon but returned to the United States due to a foot injury. In April 2010, Gaffney inked a contract with the Boston Celtics for the remainder of that season and playoffs but was waived in October.

In October 2010, he joined Turkey’s Türk Telekom B.K., departing after two months. January 2011 saw him signing with the NBA Development League’s Utah Flash, where he averaged 11.5 points, seven rebounds, and two blocks per game while earning a spot on the NBDL All-Defensive First Team.

In July 2011, Gaffney moved to Germany’s Telekom Baskets Bonn, leading the league in blocks and ranking fifth in steals while averaging 13 points and six rebounds per game. His efforts garnered All League recognition from Eurobasket.com and inclusion on their First Team All Defensive Team.

Signing with Spain’s Joventut Badalona in July 2012, Gaffney left in March due to financial difficulties faced by the club. During his tenure in the ACB league, he ranked among the top seven in rebounding (5.91), efficiency (15.3), and within the top four for blocks and steals while averaging 11.5 points per contest.

In September 2013, Gaffney briefly signed with the Memphis Grizzlies but was waived before regular-season play commenced.

Returning to Telekom Baskets Bonn for the 2013–14 campaign, he was voted a starter for Germany's BBL All-Star game and earned Eurobasket.com’s All Defensive First Team honors again while averaging 12 points, six rebounds, along with more than one block and steal per game.

In September 2014, Gaffney secured a two-year contract with Israel’s Hapoel Jerusalem B.C., playing a key role in their inaugural championship victory during the 2014–15 season. He was named Israeli Super League Sixth Man of the Year and was twice nominated as a finalist for Defensive Player of the Year while contributing approximately ten points and six rebounds each game.

For the 2016–17 season, Gaffney signed with Germany’s Alba Berlin.

In July 2017, he joined Japan’s B.League team Chiba Jets Funabashi, departing in November to re-sign with Israel’s Hapoel Tel Aviv, reuniting with coach Danny Franco. He made an impactful debut by scoring 23 points along with five rebounds, three steals, and three blocks—earning Israeli League Round MVP honors soon thereafter. Gaffney was selected as a starter for the Israeli All-Star Game in 2018 and helped lead Hapoel to their first Final Four appearance in thirteen years.

On August 6, 2018, Gaffney agreed to a one-year deal with Italy’s New Basket Brindisi, assisting them in reaching the playoffs before being eliminated by Dinamo Sassari.

On June 25, 2019, he returned to Israel signing with Ironi Nahariya. Serving as team captain—the first foreign player to hold that position in franchise history—he guided Nahariya to its inaugural appearance in the Israeli Basketball State Cup Finals.

External links

• Biography at UMass Minutemen
• Profile on FIBA.com