Dorian Finney-Smith received an emotional early Christmas gift.
His dad.
The Nets granted Finney-Smith a one-day leave to travel to Virginia and greet his father, Elbert Smith, as he was released from Greensville Correctional Center after 28 years, nine months and 10 days in prison.
“Last 48 hours it’s been exciting, long, just because they didn’t give us a specific time, they just gave us a specific date,” Finney-Smith said before Wednesday night’s clash against the Knicks at Barclays Center. “It was a long ass four hours just waiting on them to give you that phone call to tell you he’s ready. It was exciting, though. He gets to watch the first game [tonight] in the house without having to share the TV with anyone else. It’s fun.”
Smith, a Navy veteran who was honorably discharged and had already been arrested for distribution of cocaine, was involved in a fatal incident on Jan. 25, 1995.
He and partner Diefen McGann went to a Virginia Beach auto repair shop to collect a debt from Willie Anderson, according to court documents obtained by the Dallas Morning News.
Both Smith and McGann had a handgun, and Anderson attempted to reach McGann’s gun during a skirmish. Smith told police that he lunged at Anderson with a knife, causing Anderson to then release McGann’s gun.
But McGann shot Anderson, who died from his injuries.
Both Smith and McGann were tried for first-degree murder. McGann accepted a plea deal for voluntary manslaughter and received a five-year prison sentence.
Smith, however, rejected the same plea deal because McGann was the one who fired the shots. Smith was then convicted by a jury for second-degree murder and sentenced to 44 years in prison.
But the Mavericks, whom Finney-Smith played with prior to being traded to the Nets last year as part of the package for Kyrie Irving, stepped in to help.
Former majority owner Mark Cuban and his Mark Cuban Companies chief of staff Jason Lutin worked to get the Virginia Parole Board to consider Smith’s case, and the board voted 3-0 to grant his parole in July.
Finney-Smith had to wait another five months, but on Tuesday was finally able to touch his father for the first time since he was a toddler.
Smith is now staying in the Virginia home Finney-Smith bought for his mother and Smith’s ex-wife Desiree, who is looking after him.
“It was amazing,” Finney-Smith said. “Just me trying to feel him out. I had to touch his arms, shoulders, just to get a feel for him. I hadn’t touched him or remember ever touching him. It was emotional. The hug lasted for longer than I probably thought.”
Finney-Smith flew back to Virginia, where he grew up, from Utah after Monday night’s loss to the Jazz.
He landed around 5 a.m., and they did not pick up his father until around 2 p.m.
Finney-Smith returned to the team Tuesday night.
“Definitely as an organization we were very supportive of [Finney-Smith] flying back and being there for that special day,” head coach Jacque Vaughn said. “You never know what guys are dealing with when they’re playing on the floor. …
“You talk about the ultimate Christmas gift, for [Finney-Smith’s] kids to be there as well, pretty touching this time of year, when you try to hone in on the things that make life simple and uncomplicated, his family and being able to appreciate that.”
Finney-Smith stayed in communication with his father during his sentence, but said they really started to bond after he had his first child his junior year of high school.
“When I had a baby I started talking to him a lot more,” Finney-Smith said. “My girl, how tight her family is with her dad and her grandad, I just wanted that for my kids. Just made me want to reach out and start asking questions. We got closer once I started having kids. … I had someone to talk to. I felt like he couldn’t judge me, and he still knew everyone around me. He was someone I could vent to. I knew he wasn’t gonna judge me, because who was he to judge?”
Finney-Smith, who spent his first six-and-a-half seasons with the Mavericks, praised the organization’s effort.
“I’m just happy to be in this situation where I get to play the game I love,” Finney-Smith said. “[It] helped me build relationships where I can meet people who can help me with my situation.”