Dorian Finney-Smith’s father Elbert Smith will reportedly see his son play in person for the first time in his life when the Brooklyn Nets take on the Detroit Pistons on Saturday.
I’m told that after months of communication with Virginia department of corrections officials, Elbert Smith tonight will see son Dorian play in person for the first time in his life when the Nets host Detroit. Another huge milestone for Dorian and his family.
After nearly 30…
— Brad Townsend (@townbrad) April 6, 2024
In 1996, Smith was convicted of second-degree murder along with use in commission of a firearm and malicious wounding. He was present during the killing and wounded the victim but didn’t pull the trigger. He subsequently served over 28 years in prison.
Finney-Smith has played for two NBA teams — the Nets and Dallas Mavericks — since he joined the pros ahead of the 2016-17 season.
The 30-year-old spent the first six-plus seasons of his NBA career with the Mavericks before he was dealt to the Nets around the 2023 trade deadline with Spencer Dinwiddie and three draft picks in the deal that landed Dallas Kyrie Irving. Markieff Morris was also sent to Dallas in the deal.
Across 67 games played and 55 starts with the Nets so far in the 2023-24 regular season, Finney-Smith is averaging 8.6 points, 4.6 rebounds and 1.6 assists per game while shooting 42.3 percent from the floor and 35.1 percent from deep.
He was a key contributor in Brooklyn’s most recent game against the Indiana Pacers on April 3, as he totaled 10 points, two rebounds, one assist and one steal on 4-of-7 shooting from the field in a game the Nets won by a final score of 115-111.
Unfortunately, Finney-Smith and the Nets have already been eliminated from playoff contention, as Brooklyn is six games back of the Atlanta Hawks — the No. 10 seed in the Eastern Conference — with just five games remaining on its regular-season schedule.
The Nets have played competitive basketball at home this season, considering they hold an 18-20 home record so far. But away from home, it has been a different and bleaker story. Brooklyn has won just 12 of its 39 road games in the 2023-24 regular season to this point.
Fortunately, Finney-Smith and the Nets will be at home for their upcoming game against the Pistons — who are winners of just one of their last 10 contests — on Saturday night.
Here’s to hoping that Finney-Smith puts on a show with his father in attendance for the first time.
