“We kissed, very long. It was very moving. » These are the words of Dorian Finney-Smith, who has just found his father, imprisoned since 1995 after a dark story of murder. The perpetrator of the fatal shootings negotiated with the judge at the time, receiving a sentence of only five years in prison. Accompanying him with a gun to the crime scene but not having fired, the basketball player's father had been there until the trial, on the advice of his lawyer. Except that he ultimately received 44 years in prison!
Three years ago, the player, with the help of the Mavericks where he played at the time, took steps to obtain conditional release. A job that will finally pay off last July.
But Elbert Smith was only released this Tuesday, because unforeseen problems (overdoses, riots, etc.) have hit the Greensville Correctional Center recently. His release was therefore delayed.
“The process took a little longer than we thought. But my father kept his good humor throughout. He wasn't angry.”underlines the current Nets player for the Dallas Morning News. The Brooklyn franchise also offered him a day off to enjoy this unique moment.
The Greatest Christmas by Dorian Finney-Smith
“He’s here for Christmas and that’s all that matters,” adds the former Dallasite, who slept little the two nights before this reunion. “It's the best Christmas present I've ever received. After the birth of my children, it is one of the happiest days of my life. »
Dorian Finney-Smith was only two years old when his father's life was turned upside down. Even though he has made many visits to the visiting room, he can finally benefit from his father's presence.
“I had never felt his physicality. He's a big guy.”slides the 2m01 player against his father's 1m88. “His grandchildren say I look a lot like him”he adds.
Before celebrating Christmas with his father, “DFS” recalled the importance of the work of the Dallas franchise in this process. Nico Harrison, the GM, accompanied the player in his efforts when Mark Cuban wrote a testimony and Rick Carlisle, his coach for five seasons, even participated in the hearing virtually.
“Thank you to the Mavericks family for all this. This goes beyond basketball. We can't even put into words what they did in this situation.”he concludes.
| Dorian Finney Smith | Percentage | Rebounds | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | MJ | Min | Shots | 3pts | L.F. | Off | Def | Early | Pd | Party | Int | Bp | Ct | Pts |
| 2016-17 | DAL | 81 | 20 | 37.2 | 29.3 | 75.4 | 0.7 | 2.1 | 2.7 | 0.8 | 1.5 | 0.6 | 0.6 | 0.3 | 4.3 |
| 2017-18 | DAL | 21 | 21 | 38.0 | 29.9 | 73.3 | 1.1 | 2.5 | 3.6 | 1.2 | 2.1 | 0.5 | 1.0 | 0.2 | 5.9 |
| 2018-19 | DAL | 81 | 25 | 43.2 | 31.1 | 70.9 | 1.7 | 3.1 | 4.8 | 1.2 | 2.3 | 0.9 | 0.9 | 0.4 | 7.5 |
| 2019-20 | DAL | 71 | 30 | 46.6 | 37.6 | 72.2 | 2.0 | 3.7 | 5.7 | 1.6 | 2.5 | 0.6 | 1.0 | 0.6 | 9.6 |
| 2020-21 | DAL | 60 | 32 | 47.2 | 39.4 | 75.6 | 1.6 | 3.8 | 5.4 | 1.7 | 2.3 | 0.9 | 0.8 | 0.4 | 9.8 |
| 2021-22 | DAL | 80 | 33 | 47.1 | 39.5 | 67.5 | 1.5 | 3.2 | 4.7 | 1.9 | 2.3 | 1.1 | 1.0 | 0.5 | 11.0 |
| 2022-23 * | All Teams | 66 | 30 | 39.1 | 33.7 | 76.3 | 1.7 | 3.1 | 4.8 | 1.5 | 2.2 | 0.8 | 0.9 | 0.6 | 8.4 |
| 2022-23 * | DAL | 40 | 32 | 41.6 | 35.5 | 75.0 | 1.7 | 3.0 | 4.7 | 1.5 | 2.0 | 1.0 | 0.9 | 0.5 | 9.1 |
| 2022-23 * | BRK | 26 | 28 | 35.1 | 30.6 | 78.9 | 1.8 | 3.1 | 4.9 | 1.6 | 2.5 | 0.7 | 1.0 | 0.6 | 7.2 |
| 2023-24 | BRK | 24 | 30 | 46.7 | 43.9 | 66.7 | 2.1 | 3.0 | 5.1 | 1.3 | 2.3 | 0.7 | 0.9 | 0.6 | 10.3 |
| Total | 484 | 28 | 43.9 | 36.2 | 72.3 | 1.5 | 3.1 | 4.6 | 1.4 | 2.2 | 0.8 | 0.9 | 0.5 | 8.3 | |
How to read the stats? MJ = matches played; Min = Minutes; Shots = Successful shots / Attempted shots; 3pts = 3-points / 3-points attempted; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; Off = offensive rebound; Def=defensive rebound; Tot = Total rebounds; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal fouls; Int = Intercepts; Bp = Lost balls; Ct: Against; Pts = Points.
