The Los Angeles Lakers’ acquisition of veteran player Dorian Finney-Smith in late December marked the start of a roster change that made this team a serious championship contender. Many teams wanted Finney-Smith, and he has proven his worth by making a significant impact on the Lakers.
Beyond his performance on the court, Finney-Smith has received high praise from his teammates for his professionalism and attitude. He is always prepared and eager to do whatever the Lakers need. Although he is a tough competitor, he maintains respect for his opponents and never goes too far.
Because of this, it is fitting that Finney-Smith has been nominated as one of six finalists for the NBA Sportsmanship Award, as announced by the NBA on Wednesday.
The other finalists announced include Kyrie Irving from the Dallas Mavericks, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander from the Oklahoma City Thunder, Jarrett Allen from the Cleveland Cavaliers, Jrue Holiday from the Boston Celtics, and Franz Wagner from the Orlando Magic.
Each season, every team chooses one player to be in the running for the award, with one player from each division becoming a finalist. After the regular season ends, players vote for the award, giving eleven points for a first-place vote, nine for second place, seven for third, and so on. The player who earns the most points, no matter how many first-place votes they get, wins the award. Mike Conley, the point guard for the Minnesota Timberwolves, has won the award four times, which is a record.
The Lakers couldn’t have chosen a better player than Finney-Smith to represent them, and soon we will see if the rest of the league agrees. No matter what happens, he truly deserves the award.
Lakers’ Dorian Finney-Smith shares his thoughts on a key strength in his game.
Dorian Finney-Smith recently had his best offensive outing of the season with the Lakers, scoring 20 points and hitting six 3-pointers in a victory against the Houston Rockets. After the game, he spoke about how he can easily adjust to different team lineups and succeed, which he considers one of his greatest strengths.
“I believe that’s one of the best aspects of my game,” Finney-Smith said. “I can play with any team and connect well with anyone, especially when there are star players around. I’m just glad those guys were finding me tonight, and I was in a groove.
