LeBron James & JJ Redick Discuss Dorian Finney-Smith’s Impact on the Lakers
While the focus has mainly been on the Los Angeles Lakers’ trade for Luka Doncic, their acquisition of Dorian Finney-Smith has flown under the radar.
Since joining the team, Finney-Smith has had a significant impact, with his +162 plus/minus ranking second on the team, behind only Austin Reaves. Although his shooting has been inconsistent, his defensive presence and leadership have been exactly what the Lakers need.
This was especially clear during the Lakers’ victory over the Dallas Mavericks on Tuesday, where Finney-Smith, despite scoring only two points, had a substantial influence, particularly in the game’s final moments. It’s the little things—offensive rebounds, setting screens, creating steals, and deflections—that don’t show up in the box score but still contribute to winning, which Finney-Smith consistently delivers.
“We don’t win if Bron doesn’t step up, and we don’t win if Doe doesn’t make three key plays,” Lakers coach JJ Redick said after the game. “I have another one that won’t show up on the stats. Luka drives against the switch… Luka makes the layup. He finally gets the dunk, but then there’s the back tap steal on Kyrie [Irving] leading to a Rui [Hachimura] basket. I thought Doe played a huge role in making winning plays down the stretch.”
Redick, who has previously played with Finney-Smith as a teammate on the Mavericks, is comfortable coaching him hard.
“With Doe, sometimes he needs a little more than gentle coaching—more like tough love, but he takes it and gets right back to work,” Redick said. “He does a fantastic job of setting the tone with his toughness. Yesterday, we had fun defining what a banshee is in different cultures, and I think Doe fits that role for us, leading the charge with winning basketball plays.”
The Lakers have been searching for a reliable 3-and-D wing for several years, and it seems they’ve finally found one in Finney-Smith.
LeBron James, who has faced off against Finney-Smith in the past, also shared his appreciation for his new teammate.
“We knew exactly what we were getting with him,” James said. “We knew we’d see things in the box score, but also things that won’t show up. He’s a winner, making winning plays. Like those three key plays down the stretch—getting Luka a layup with the screen, tipping in my missed floater, and getting a tip from behind for another easy basket. Those were some of the biggest plays of the game.
“When you have a guy like Doe Doe, you can always count on him to make winning plays, no matter what they happen.”