Nets forward Dorian-Finney Smith reunites with his father after he spent 29 years in prison for second-degree murder conviction: ‘Best Christmas gift I’ve ever gotten’
- Dorian Finney-Smith is having a strong season for the Brooklyn Nets
- But on Tuesday he still had some important matters to take care of off the field
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Brooklyn Nets forward Dorian Finney-Smith has been reunited with his father, nearly 30 years after he was incarcerated following the Jan. 25, 1995, murder.
Elbert Smith was convicted of manslaughter and malicious wounding on March 29, 1996, after Willie Anderson II was killed by Diefen McGann in a botched debt collection, according to court documents cited by the court. Dallas Morning News.
Smith was present at the incident but did not pull the trigger; However, his court-appointed attorney advised him against taking a five-year plea deal, and he was sentenced to 44 years in prison at trial.
After being locked up in various Virginia prisons for a total of 28 years, 9 months and 10 days, Smith was finally able to hug his now 30-year-old son on Tuesday.
“We just hugged,” Finney-Smith told the Dallas Morning News. 'A long, long hug. So many questions and stuff we have. It was very emotional.'
Dorian Finney-Smith said reuniting with his father was 'the best Christmas present I ever received'
Finney-Smith, who attempted a layup against the Nuggets, is having a strong season
The Brooklyn Net added, “This is the best Christmas present I've ever received. Besides the births of my children, this is one of the best days I've ever had.'
Finney-Smith was given the day off by the Nets to travel to his native Virginia for the meeting.
His father was granted parole in July, but his release was delayed in part because of Virginia's “overcrowded and understaffed” prison system, the Morning News reported.
Finney-Smith, who was traded to the Nets earlier this year, spent the first seven years of his career with the Mavericks, and the team played a major role in his father's eventual release.
The University of Florida product told (Mavs owner) Mark Cuban Companies chief of staff Jason Lutin about his father's situation, and he in turn contacted former Virginia Attorney General Jerry Kilgore, who investigated the case van Smith took on pro bono.
“Thank you to the Mavs family for this. This is beyond basketball. You can't even try to put into words what they did in this situation,” Finney-Smith said.
Finney-Smith and the Nets will take on the Knicks on Wednesday night as they look for their 14th win of the season.
He is having a strong season, averaging 10.3 points and 5.3 rebounds per game.