Undrafted Mavs rookie Finney-Smith proving he belongs in the NBA

As Dorian Finney-Smith so aptly recalls, it was the night of this past NBA Draft. And Finney-Smith and his family were all set to party and dance the night away.

With high hopes of being drafted, Finney-Smith rented a hotel suite in Norfolk, Va., so he and his family would have ample room to celebrate in style.

“It was 10-11 of us,” Finney-Smith said. “We’re eating and watching the draft.

“Me, my brothers and sisters, my mama, my girlfriend, my (6-year-old) daughter, we all watched the whole draft. By the end of the draft I cut (the TV) off and everybody was just like, ‘Dang.’ ”

For Finney-Smith, the draft did indeed end with a thud. Some 60 players were drafted, and none were named Dorian Finney-Smith.

“My daughter didn’t know what was going on,” Finney-Smith said. “I didn’t get any sleep that night.

“It was tough to swallow knowing that I put in a lot of work.”

The Dallas Mavericks phoned Finney-Smith later that night and wanted him to join their summer league roster. The Mavericks had brought Finney-Smith for a workout prior to the draft, but used their lone pick — a second-rounder — on Purdue center A.J. Hammons.

It took Finney-Smith two days to finally commit to join the Mavericks. The 6-foot-8, 220-pound forward flourished in summer league play and in training camp to earn a spot on the final 15-man roster.

“I don’t think it would have changed with him even if he would have been a first-round pick,” coach Rick Carlisle said. “I think he’s just wired to be a competitor, and I think that’s another recurring compliment to him as a player and as a competitor.”

Finney-Smith, 23, has modest averages of four points and 1.9 rebounds in 19.3 minutes per game this season. However, he’s more than earned his keep on the defensive end.

“Defensively, he’s way ahead of the curve for a rookie,” Carlisle said.

Finney-Smith, a two-time All-Southeastern Conference player at Florida, has started 12 games this season because Dirk Nowitzki has a strained right Achilles.

“Look, if you’re an undrafted rookie and you’re starting 15 games into the season, that says a lot,” owner Mark Cuban said.

Finney-Smith played one year at Virginia Tech, transferred to Florida, sat out a year because of NCAA transfer rules, and then played three seasons with the Gators.

“As a little kid all you want to do is see your name being called (on draft day), but this also shows you everybody arrives (to the NBA) different,” Finney-Smith said. “I’m happy to be here.”

For Finney-Smith, the party can now start.

This story was originally published December 6, 2016 at 6:08 PM with the headline "Undrafted Mavs rookie Finney-Smith proving he belongs in the NBA."