Mavericks: Dorian Finney-Smith is one of the most underrated players

The Dallas Mavericks signed an undrafted free agent out of the University of Florida back in 2016 named Dorian Finney-Smith. Most predicted the rookie would not make it out of training camp. Now, Doe-Doe is in his second season as a full-time starter for the Mavericks.

Still, Finney-Smith is one of the most underrated players in the league. The casual NBA fan has likely never heard of the Mavericks forward. Those who have may know him as a defense-first player that can go unnoticed on the court. They may not realize that the 27-year-old is shooting an above-league average 3-point percentage for the second year in a row.

Dorian Finney-Smith is more than a 3-and-D wing for the Mavericks. He brings a ton to the team and is one of the most underrated players in the league. Let us take a closer look at why Doe-Doe does not get enough credit.

Mavericks forward Dorian Finney-Smith is one of the most underrated players in the NBA

When healthy, the Mavs have proven to be a dangerous team. Finney-Smith missed nine games in the health and safety protocols this season. After a few contests to get his legs back, the Mavericks have gone 22-12. They have won just five of the 11 games Doe-Doe has missed this season.

Trade deadline acquisition J.J. Redick had this to say about Finney-Smith following practice on April 10.

"“Dorian I don’t think gets enough credit around the league for what he does. He’s incredibly valuable, super low maintenance, works hard, great teammate. For him, I am not surprised about his impact on the game because I knew that beforehand, but just what a great dude he is and what a great teammate he is. You need guys like that on every team.”"

Redick is not wrong. Here are three things that make Mavericks forward Dorian Finney-Smith one of the most underrated players in the NBA.

Next: No. 3

Why Dallas Mavericks forward Dorian Finney-Smith is underrated: 3. Versatility

Finney-Smith can guard any player on the floor. The five players he matched up against most this season are Brandon Ingram, Jayson Tatum, Chris Paul, DeMar DeRozan, and Damian Lillard. The Mavs are never afraid to put him at the point of attack or on the opposition’s top scorer. Coach Rick Carlisle even used Doe-Doe on Karl-Anthony Towns in past seasons. Few players in the league have the versatility to guard any player on the court.

The addition of Josh Richardson has allowed Dallas to switch more on the defensive end this season. That would not be possible without Finney-Smith and Maxi Kleber playing the forward spots for the Mavericks.

Dallas can play Doe-Doe any position too. They have used him as a small-ball five in past seasons. This year with the addition of Willie Cauley-Stein, the Mavericks have not needed Finney-Smith at center. He has played the three and the four exclusively. Finney-Smith spaces the floor and leads the Mavericks defense. He is a valuable addition to any lineup and gives coach Carlisle plenty of options.

Dorian Finney-Smith does not just have versatility on the defensive end of the floor, but he often has to sacrifice on offense for the Dallas Mavericks to be at their best.

Next: No. 2

Why Dallas Mavericks forward Dorian Finney-Smith is underrated: 2. Sacrifice

Finney-Smith is the type of role player every team needs. He plays strong defense, knocks down open jumpers, and cuts for easy scorers. Doe-Doe knows his role and tries to maximize his production in it.

That also means Finney-Smith sacrifices for the team. Fans saw what he can do against the Utah Jazz when they decided to match up Rudy Gobert on him and let their Defensive Player of the Year roam. See Doe-Doe fly past Gobert for a dunk below.

Finney-Smith finished with 23 points, six rebounds, four assists, one steal, and one block against the Jazz on April 5. He was eight of 17 from the field and hit five 3-pointers in his 34 minutes of action.

The Mavericks are at their best with Luka Doncic running the offense and creating open looks for his teammates. Dorian Finney-Smith stands out in his role as a shooter and floor spacer, but he could do more. The 27-year-old is underrated because he is willing to do anything to help the team win. He scores most of his points off threes, putbacks, or hustle plays. The Mavs need that energy and shooting to be successful.

Next: No. 1

Why Dallas Mavericks forward Dorian Finney-Smith is underrated: 1. Work ethic

Finney-Smith is one of the hardest workers in the league. His minutes have increased every season. To go from undrafted rookie to full-time starter in four years is nothing short of miraculous. Doe-Doe has gone from playing 20 minutes per game as a rookie to 32 a night in his fifth NBA season.

He has made massive strides in his shooting too. Finney-Smith shot under 30 percent from 3-point range in each of his first two seasons. He improved it to 31.1 percent in his third year before shooting above league average for the last two seasons. Few players can make that leap. None can do it without working extremely hard and being dedicated to improvement.

Doe-Doe is going to keep getting better. The 27-year-old is one of the most underrated players in the league, but that could change if the Dallas Mavericks make a deep playoff run. Dorian Finney-Smith will be at the center of it guarding the many elite scorers in the Western Conference. He will have a chance to shine and fans can expect Doe-Doe to be ready.

The best is still yet to come from the 2021 Mavs. Keep it locked to The Smoking Cuban for all the latest on the team.