Dorian Finney-Smith Bio
Dorian Lawrence Finney-Smith is an American professional basketball player for the Houston Rockets of the National Basketball Association (NBA). Standing 6 feet 7 inches tall and playing both power forward and small forward, he is widely respected for his defensive versatility and three-point shooting. After beginning his career as an undrafted free agent, he grew into a reliable starter and a key part of several postseason teams during his seven seasons with the Dallas Mavericks.
Early Life and Background
Dorian Lawrence Finney-Smith was born on May 4, 1993, in Portsmouth, Virginia. He was raised by his mother, Desiree Finney-Henderson, and his father, Elbert Smith, in a close-knit family that included several siblings who also pursued athletics. His mother has five other children, three of whom became collegiate athletes: Ben Finney, who played for the Old Dominion Monarchs; Sha-Kilya Finney, who played for the Maryland Eastern Shore Hawks; and Monnazjea Finney-Smith, who played for the VCU Rams.
Tragedy shaped Finney-Smith’s early years. On September 13, 2008, his older brother, Ra-Shawn Finney, was fatally shot seven times after a confrontation at a house party in Chesapeake, Virginia. The loss left a lasting mark, and Finney-Smith later had Ra-Shawn’s name tattooed across his chest as a permanent tribute. His father, Elbert Smith, was sentenced in 1996 to 44 years in prison for his role in a 1995 murder in Kempsville, Virginia, and was released in 2024. Throughout these hardships, basketball offered a steady outlet and a clear path forward.
Path to Basketball
Finney-Smith attended I. C. Norcom High School in Portsmouth, Virginia, where he quickly developed into one of the state’s top prospects. As a junior in 2009–10, he averaged 19.7 points, 13 rebounds, six assists, three steals, and two blocks per game, and he was named All-Tidewater Player of the Year. In September 2010, he committed to Virginia Tech, signing a National Letter of Intent later that December.
As a senior in 2010–11, Finney-Smith averaged 18 points, 10.7 rebounds, and 3.8 blocks per game while leading Norcom to back-to-back VHSL Group AAA state championships, along with Eastern Region and District titles. He finished his high school career as a two-time VHSL Class AAA Player of the Year and a first-team all-state selection. He then joined the Virginia Tech Hokies, where he played in all 33 games as a freshman and earned ACC All-Freshman Team honors. After one season, he transferred to the Florida Gators in June 2012 and was forced to sit out the 2012–13 campaign under NCAA transfer rules.
Dorian Finney-Smith Career
Florida Gators and College Growth (2013–2016)
Finney-Smith blossomed at Florida after his transfer year. As a sophomore in 2013–14, he was named SEC Sixth Man of the Year, becoming just the second Gator to win the award after Chris Richard in 2007. He led the team in total rebounds (247) and per-game rebounding (6.7) and recorded the first 20-point, 15-rebound performance by a Gator on the road during Billy Donovan’s tenure, finishing with 22 points in an overtime win at Arkansas.
As a junior in 2014–15, he was named second-team All-SEC by the coaches and led Florida in scoring (13.1), rebounding (6.2), and three-point shooting (.426), scoring a career-high 25 points against Jacksonville. In his senior season of 2015–16, he repeated as second-team All-SEC by the coaches and added third-team All-SEC from the Associated Press. He led the Gators in scoring (14.7) for a second straight year and in rebounding (8.3) for a third consecutive season, becoming the first Florida transfer to reach the 1,000-point club and finishing with 1,220 career points, 36th in school history.
Dallas Mavericks (2016–2023)
After going undrafted in the 2016 NBA draft, Finney-Smith signed with the Dallas Mavericks on July 8 and joined the team for the 2016 NBA Summer League. He earned an opening-night roster spot and gradually grew into a rotation player, eventually becoming a starter alongside the franchise’s rising star, Luka Dončić. In July 2019, he re-signed with Dallas on a three-year, $12 million contract, and on February 12, 2022, he signed a four-year, $52 million veteran extension.
His seven-year Mavericks tenure was highlighted by several deep playoff runs. He set a career high with 28 points on March 30, 2022, in a win over the Cleveland Cavaliers, and he scored a playoff career-high 24 points with eight three-pointers in a 111–101 Game 4 win over the Phoenix Suns during the 2022 Western Conference semifinals. The Mavericks reached the Western Conference Finals that season, where they fell to the eventual champion Golden State Warriors in five games. Earlier, in August 2020, Finney-Smith helped Dallas qualify for the postseason for the first time since 2016, posting nine points, four rebounds, two assists, and two steals in his playoff debut against the Los Angeles Clippers.
Brooklyn Nets (2023–2024)
On February 6, 2023, Finney-Smith was traded, alongside Spencer Dinwiddie, an unprotected 2029 first-round pick, and second-round picks in 2027 and 2029, to the Brooklyn Nets in exchange for Kyrie Irving and Markieff Morris. He spent the rest of the 2022–23 season and most of 2023–24 in Brooklyn, providing veteran defense and floor spacing.
Los Angeles Lakers (2024–2025)
On December 29, 2024, Finney-Smith was traded from the Nets, along with Shake Milton, to the Los Angeles Lakers in exchange for Maxwell Lewis, D’Angelo Russell, and three future second-round picks. He became a valuable 3-and-D piece for the Lakers and helped them secure a No. 3 seed in the playoffs. He made 43 appearances with 20 starts for Los Angeles during the 2024–25 NBA season, averaging 7.9 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 1.4 assists. On June 12, 2025, he underwent surgery to repair a lingering ankle injury, and on June 29 it was announced that he would opt out of his $15.4 million player option to become an unrestricted free agent.
Houston Rockets Era (2025–Present)
On July 7, 2025, Finney-Smith signed a four-year, $53 million contract with the Houston Rockets, joining a young and athletic roster looking to climb the Western Conference standings. The move reunited him with a contender focused on long-term growth.
Driving Style and Strengths
Finney-Smith is best known as a 3-and-D forward, a player who spaces the floor with three-point shooting and defends multiple positions. He uses his 6-foot-7 frame, quick feet, and high basketball IQ to switch across perimeter positions and protect the rim in help situations. Offensively, he has steadily improved his three-point efficiency, peaking at 42.6 percent in 2014–15 at Florida and remaining a reliable corner and wing threat in the NBA.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among his signature moments, Finney-Smith scored 24 points with eight made three-pointers in a 2022 playoff win over the Phoenix Suns, posted a career-high 28 points against Cleveland in March 2022, and recorded 23 points in a 2022 Western Conference Finals Game 4 win over the eventual champion Golden State Warriors. He also became the first Florida transfer to reach the 1,000-point club in school history.
Dorian Finney-Smith Career Highlights
Finney-Smith has built a steady, defense-first resume across more than a decade of organized basketball, from Virginia high school championships to deep NBA playoff runs with Dallas, Brooklyn, and Los Angeles. His career has been defined by consistent three-point shooting, versatile defense, and a willingness to fill a role on contending teams.
College Achievements
At Virginia Tech, Finney-Smith was a 2012 ACC All-Freshman Team selection, and at Florida he was the 2014 SEC Sixth Man of the Year, a two-time second-team All-SEC pick in 2015 and 2016, and a third-team All-SEC selection by the Associated Press in 2016.
NBA Performances
In the NBA, Finney-Smith appeared in the playoffs in 2020, 2021, 2022, and 2025, reaching the Western Conference Finals with the Mavericks in 2022 and helping the Lakers earn a No. 3 seed in 2025.
Dorian Finney-Smith Family
Family Background and Lineage
Finney-Smith is the son of Elbert Smith and Desiree Finney-Henderson. His mother’s side of the family produced several collegiate athletes, including Ben Finney at Old Dominion, Sha-Kilya Finney at Maryland Eastern Shore, and Monnazjea Finney-Smith at VCU. The nickname Doe-Doe, which he carries publicly, was given in honor of his paternal grandmother, Doris.
Personal Life
Finney-Smith had his first child, a daughter, when he was 16 years old, and he also has two sons. He is widely recognized for his quiet leadership, community involvement in Portsmouth, and ongoing dedication to the memory of his late brother, Ra-Shawn Finney.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 offseason marked a new chapter for Finney-Smith. After helping the Los Angeles Lakers reach the playoffs as a No. 3 seed and averaging 7.9 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 1.4 assists, he underwent ankle surgery in June 2025 and opted out of his Lakers contract to test free agency. His three-point shooting and perimeter defense remained central to his value across the league.
On July 7, 2025, he signed a four-year, $53 million deal with the Houston Rockets, giving the young franchise a proven veteran forward and a respected locker-room presence. The contract, which runs through 2029, reflects both his durability and the steady demand for skilled 3-and-D wings around the NBA.
Looking ahead, Finney-Smith is expected to play a stabilizing role for Houston as the Rockets continue their development push in a loaded Western Conference. His ability to guard multiple positions, hit open threes, and support younger teammates figures to make him a key piece of the team’s rotation as the 2025–26 season unfolds.
