Tag: Dorian Finney-Smith

Former Gator included in Brooklyn Nets’ Kyrie Irving trade

Dorian Finney-Smith is heading to Brooklyn!

The hottest news on the NBA trade hot stove is the Brooklyn Nets‘ exchange with the Dallas Mavericks sending star guard Kyrie Irving to Texas while taking back multiple pieces on Sunday. The former Duke standout has been surrounded by controversy for quite some time, most recently involving his endorsement of a film that promoted a far-fringe anti-Semitic conspiracy theory that irked the denizens of New York’s popular borough.

The Nets traded Irving to the Mavs for former Gators forward [autotag]Dorian Finney-Smith[/autotag] along with Spencer Dinwiddie, a first-round pick and multiple second-round picks, according to The Athletic’s Shams Charania.

The former Florida forward averaged 9.1 points along with 4.7 rebounds, 1.5 assists, one steal and 0.9 blocks per game so far during the 2022-23 campaign. Over his seven-year career — all with the Mavericks — the 6-foot-7-inch, 220-pound frontcourt player averaged 8.3 points, 4.6 rebounds, 1.4 assists, 0.8 steals and 0.4 blocks per game.

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Somebody forgot to clear the runway for the paper airplane that caused a short delay in the Mavericks-Clippers game

A paper airplane hilariously invaded the Mavericks-Clippers game

Man. Where is air traffic control when you need them? Sure could’ve used them at the Mavericks game on Tuesday night.

We’ve seen some pretty weird delays in the NBA before. There have been roof leaks, protests, beverage spills and more. Things happen. That just is what it is.

But I don’t think I’ve ever seen a paper airplane crash land on an NBA floor to cause a delay. That happened during the Mavericks-Clippers game.

Marcus Morris came down the floor with the ball with Dorian Finney-Smith guarding him. All of a sudden, NYEEEEERM. A paper airplane comes crashing to the floor.

Everybody stopped for a second so, of course, the game is delayed. It was a hilarious delay, also. And it happened just before halftime so this is almost certainly somebody playing defense for the Mavericks from the stands.

 

Granted, it wasn’t a long delay. It wasn’t even a timeout — a Mavs staffer just removed the plane and they kept playing. But that didn’t make it any less funny.

That was a pretty well-crafted paper airplane if I do say so myself. Here’s another angle. Just look at how sharp it is.

And for it to fly perfectly in between the two players like that? Nah. Whoever made that accomplished their mission. They didn’t need a clear runway to land that bird.

Fun stuff, Dallas. Fun stuff.

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ESPN’s best all-time transfers in and out of Florida’s basketball program

Here’s a little transfer portal history for Florida basketball.

The transfer portal has revolutionized team building in college sports in recent years, particularly football and men’s basketball, creating a de facto free agency system that allows student-athletes to pursue greener pastures if their initial instincts about their current school were wrong. However, players transferring from one program to another is nothing new as it has been an option — albeit a difficult one that required a player to sit a year before becoming re-eligible to play.

Florida basketball has been no stranger to transfers over the years, with many coming through the in door as well as the out door. ESPN’s John Gasaway recently took a look at the best all-time transfers in and out of every SEC school including the Gators, which includes one familiar name who still gets time on the NBA court as well as another that is not quite as well known.

Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

Best transfer in: [autotag]Dorian Finney-Smith[/autotag], 2013-16

Finney-Smith’s three seasons at Florida spanned the [autotag]Billy Donovan[/autotag] and [autotag]Michael White[/autotag] eras, and in each of his last two years he was the Gators’ leading scorer. The current Dallas Maverick began his college career playing for Seth Greenberg at Virginia Tech.

Most significant transfer out: Mario Boggan, 2002-03

Boggan cycled through Florida, St. Bonaventure (briefly, and without actually taking the floor for the Bonnies) and Chipola Junior College before landing at Oklahoma State and earning first-team All-Big 12 honors with the Cowboys in 2007. He edges out 2022 Cousy Award finalist and Gonzaga mainstay [autotag]Andrew Nembhard[/autotag] (who played for the Gators from 2018 to 2020) for this distinguished title.

Finney-Smith has had a fine professional career since leaving Florida, stringing together six seasons — all with the Mavs — averaging 8.2 points, 4.5 rebounds, 1.4 assists, 0.8 steals and 0.4 blocks over 27.3 minutes per game. His best season came in 2021-22 when he averaged double-digit points for the first time with 11 along with a career-high 33.1 minutes per game.

On the other hand, Boggan played a year with the NBA D-League’s Anaheim Arsenal during the 2007-08 season, averaging 1.2 points, 1.2 rebounds and 0.2 assists in six games. He also played some ball overseas in Europe before hanging up his sneakers.

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Check out how these former Gators performed in Game 1 of NBA playoffs

Dorian Finney-Smith poured in a playoff career-high in a Game 1 win. Bradley Beal recorded 33 points in an opening series loss to the 76ers.

Former Gators basketball star Dorian Finney-Smith recorded a playoff career-high to help the Mavericks earn a 113-103 Game 1 victory over the Los Angeles Clippers.

Finney-Smith wasn’t the only former Florida player to make the NBA playoffs. Washington Wizards guard Bradley Beal returned to the postseason for the first time in two years. He shined and netted 33 points in a narrow defeat to the Philadelphia 76ers.

The 6-foot-7-inch Dallas power forward made the Clippers pay when they left him open. His star teammate Luka Doncic poured in 31 points and 11 assists that forced Los Angeles to guard him full court. Its coach Tyronn Lue elected to send a double-team his way that forced him to surrender the ball.

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When Doncic or another Mavericks player found Finney-Smith, he nailed the open shots. He finished the game four for five from beyond the arc and added five rebounds and two assists.

“I just know they’re going to send two guys at Luka,” Finney-Smith said, according to ESPN. “You’ve just got to be ready to shoot.”

His coach Rick Carlisle praised his efforts following the win.

“He has great belief in himself,” he said, according to Mavs Moneyball. “His 3-pointer tonight was absolutely key to the win.”

Finney-Smith will need to stay hot from deep if Dallas hopes to knock off the Clippers. The Mavericks also stole home-court advantage. The series will continue in Los Angeles Tuesday at 10:30 p.m. EDT and can be seen on NBATV.

On the other hand, Beal and the Wizards hope to bounce back after a 125-118 loss to No. 1-seeded Philadelphia.

The former Florida diaper dandy tallied 33 points in the game but struggled from the 3-point line and only hit 16.7% of his shots. He failed to get help from his other all-star Russell Westbrook who only offered 16 in the game.

Game 2 remains in Philadelphia and tip off will be on Wednesday at 7 p.m. EDT and can be seen on NBATV.

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