“I think we’ve got a great team, and I think we can do something special,” Dorian Finney-Smith says of his choice to join the Rockets in free agency.
Houston Rockets forward Dorian Finney-Smith returned to his hometown of Portsmouth, Virginia, last weekend to give back to the community.
It was the Finney Family First Foundation’s ninth annual free basketball camp and softball tournament, per WAVY-TV, the regional NBC affiliate.
In an extended interview with the station, the 32-year-old spoke to a local reporter regarding both his community initiatives and NBA topics, headlined by his new deal with the Rockets.
Houston finished at 52-30 and No. 2 in the Western Conference last season, and expectations are even higher after its offseason trade for All-Star forward Kevin Durant. Because the Rockets were able to supplement that acquisition with the signing of quality veteran free agents, such as Finney-Smith and Clint Capela, optimism continues to build.
“I think we’ve got a great team, and I think we can do something special,” said Finney-Smith, who is widely known around the NBA for his combination of versatile defense and reliable 3-point shooting (41.1% last season).
“I already know who they are. They play hard. Coach Ime (Udoka) is one of the toughest coaches in the league. I’ve never seen him smile much when you’re playing against him. The first time I’ve ever seen him smile was when we had dinner, like two weeks ago. I like that, because I’m a competitor.”
After being traded to the Los Angeles Lakers midway through last season, Finney-Smith said he entered the offseason expecting to stick around. But the right deal was apparently in Houston, and Lakers star Luka Doncic — who Finney-Smith also played alongside for several seasons with the Mavericks — was understanding of the decision.
“He cares,” Finney-Smith said of Doncic. “When I went to the Rockets, he shot me a text saying, ‘I’m happy for you. I’m proud of you. I know you’re excited to be back with your kids and family.’”
Finney-Smith’s family still lives in Dallas after his time with the Mavs, and the ability to sign with another Texas team in relatively close proximity likely worked to Houston’s benefit during the negotiations.
“Closer to the family, and an easier transition,” said Finney-Smith, whose deal with the Rockets is worth at least $26 million over two seasons (it can be for as many as four years and $53 million).
As for what’s next, Finney-Smith said he plans to be present when his children return to school in early August, and then it will be time to prepare for his next NBA chapter in Houston.
“We’ve got a mini-camp in September, so I’ll probably be in Houston in two weeks, trying to look for a place,” Finney-Smith told WAVY-TV.
The complete interview, which runs for almost 30 minutes, can be viewed here.