Brooklyn Nets forward Dorian Finney-Smith is now in his eighth NBA season. The 30-year-old spent his first six seasons with the Dallas Mavericks after going undrafted before being traded to the Nets during the 2022-23 season.
Entering Saturday, Finley-Smith played in 527 career NBA regular season and 35 postseason games. Prior to his NBA career kicking off, Finney-Smith played collegiately for Virginia Tech for one season before transferring to Florida where he played three seasons. He played high school ball at I.C. Norcum High School in Portsmouth, Virginia.
Finney-Smith has played a lot of basketball in his three decades of life. One thing has never changed throughout that time though. His father did not attend any of those games. That finally changed on Saturday as his dad got to see him play for the first time.
Nets Eight-Year Vet Finally Has Dad Witness One of His Games
Where Has Finney-Smith’s Father Been All This Time?
According to AP News, Elbert Smith, father of Dorian, was sentenced to 44 years in prison in 1996. He was convicted of second-degree murder, malicious wounding, and commission of a firearm.
Finney-Smith was born in 1993, so he hadn’t even begun any type of schooling when his father was sent to prison.
In July of 2023, the Virginia Parole Board voted unanimously to release Smith. He became a free man in December after spending more than 28.5 years behind bars. He had to wait until now to see one of his son’s games as he wasn’t allowed to travel right away.
Smith Witnesses His Son Win for the First Time
While the Nets have been eliminated from playoff contention, Saturday surely carried a lot of meaning for Brooklyn, especially Dorian Finney-Smith.
Dorian Finney-Smith on his father seeing him play in person tonight for the first time ever:
“I try not to make it more than what it is, but it’s definitely important. I’m human, so I can’t say I ain’t gonna think about it. But it’s gonna be fun… My momma talks a lot of… pic.twitter.com/WWIfVO4UtX
— Erik Slater (@erikslater_) April 6, 2024
The Nets outscored the Detroit Pistons 38-20 in the fourth quarter of their 113-103 win. Finney-Smith did just finish with two points in 24 minutes, but he also grabbed seven rebounds. Cam Thomas led the way for Brooklyn with 32 points.
It was a feel-good story for the Nets in a season where they haven’t experienced too many. Their current record is 31-47 with just four games remaining on the schedule.
