From undrafted prospect to NBA starter: the resilient journey of Dorian Finney-Smith
In short: After being bypassed in the 2016 NBA draft, Dorian Finney-Smith had to fight for a roster spot. His career has since spanned multiple franchises, defined by high-stakes trades, significant contract extensions, and a reputation as a valuable 3-and-D player in the professional basketball landscape.
Dorian Finney-Smith's professional trajectory is a testament to persistence. After going undrafted in 2016, he signed with the Dallas Mavericks, where he spent seven seasons. He transitioned from a bench player to a full-time starter by 2019, eventually helping the Mavericks reach the Western Conference Finals in 2022. His ability to provide scoring and perimeter defense earned him a four-year, $52 million veteran extension with Dallas in February 2022. During his time in Dallas, he achieved a career-high of 28 points in March 2022. He also recorded a personal best of 16 rebounds during a victory against the Sacramento Kings.
The mid-career phase of Finney-Smith's career has been marked by significant movement across the league. In February 2023, he was traded to the Brooklyn Nets as part of a deal involving Kyrie Irving. By December 2024, he moved to the Los Angeles Lakers, where he contributed to a No. 3 playoff seed during the 2024–25 season. His career has also seen him navigate injuries, including surgery in June 2025 to repair a lingering ankle injury. Following his stint with the Lakers, he signed a substantial four-year, $53 million deal with the Houston Rockets. Later, he was traded to the Charlotte Hornets in July 2026.
Finney-Smith's roots are deeply tied to Virginia. He attended I. C. At Portsmouth's Norcom High School, he earned VHSL Class AAA Player of the Year honours twice. His collegiate career was split between Virginia Tech, where he was an ACC All-Freshman Team selection, and the Florida Gators, where he was named SEC Sixth Man of the Year in the 2013–14 season. He remains a notable figure in the lineage of his family of collegiate athletes. He is known by the nickname 'Doe-Doe', a name derived from his paternal grandmother, Doris. His family includes several other collegiate athletes, such as Ben Finney and Sha-Kilya Finney.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: Dorian Finney-Smith
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