Inside The Nets

Dorian Finney-Smith's NBA Journey from Undrafted to Vital Role Player

It has been a tough road for Dorian Finney-Smith but he’s cemented himself in the NBA.

Peter Sunjic

© Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports
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Brooklyn Nets forward Dorian Finney-Smith is well-regarded around the NBA as one of the most hard-working players. He went undrafted in the 2016 NBA Draft, which could be the reason why he always plays with a chip on his shoulder.

After spending seven years with the Dallas Mavericks as one of the league’s most underrated players, Finney-Smith was traded to the Nets. In Brooklyn, he has maintained a solid role within Jacque Vaughn's rotation, building a reputation as a vital role player.

“He’s just really stepped up to the challenge. What I’ve seen from him is his ability to compete,” Vaughn said about Finney-Smith earlier in the 2023/24 season. “His fight has been the first thing that needs to be acknowledged. His rebounding, his ability for us to use him to get a rebound and bust-out dribble, that’s an advantage for us.”

Finney-Smith continues to be a versatile player

Primarily utilized as an undersized power forward, Dorian Finney-Smith consistently proves his reliability, even transitioning to a small-ball center in several games during the 2023/24 season. He finds ways to contribute on offense with his off-ball movement with cuts and pulling back to the three-point line to shoot.

His value is often unseen by the casual viewer as Doe works hard with his hustle plays, screen-setting, box-outs, and overall energy, which doesn't translate to box score numbers. 

Finney-Smith did the same when he was with Dallas and he continues to be a vital role player for the Nets. He is a prototypical glue guy that any team would love to have. Thankfully for the fans, the Virginia native still has three years left in his contract after this season, making him a mainstay for this Nets team.

Finney-Smith has the green light to shoot it

While he does not step away from his role, Doe has the green light to shoot the ball whenever he’s open. This has done wonders to his confidence because so far in the 2023/24 season’s 13 games, he is shooting an absurd 45.1% from beyond the arc.

With his mix of good mindset, amazing defense, and elite spot-up shooting, Finney-Smith has seemingly clinched a long-term role with any team, but thankfully for Nets fans, he’s playing in Brooklyn.

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Peter Sunjic
PETER SUNJIC

Peter's journey with basketball commenced in the first grade, and it has since evolved into an integral part of his life. Standing on the brink of a potential professional playing career, Peter ultimately chose to pursue a degree in Political Science and Journalism in Zagreb, Croatia. Despite this academic pursuit, his deep-rooted love for the game of basketball endured, undiminished. Now, as a writer and editor, Peter finds an avenue to channel his unwavering passion for basketball-related news and analysis. Whether it's deciphering the latest happenings or delving into the lore of old-school basketball, he covers every corner of the NBA world.

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