NEW YORK (AP) 鈥� On the schedule, it was Game 78.
It was something far more meaningful for Brooklyn Nets forward Dorian Finney-Smith.
Finney-Smith鈥檚 father, Elbert Smith, was at Barclays Center on Saturday night for the Nets' game against the Detroit Pistons. It marked the first time the 52-year-old was able to see his son play in person.
鈥淚t鈥檚 exciting,鈥� the Nets forward said before the game. 鈥淚t鈥檚 exciting knowing it鈥檚 (going to) be his first time ever seeing me play in person. But definitely want to get his win for him, so just try and focus on getting the win.鈥�
Elbert Smith was convicted in 1996 of second-degree murder, malicious wounding, and commission of a firearm in the shooting death of Willie Anderson II. He was sentenced to 44 years in prison.
The reported that the Mavericks helped work for Smith's release while Finney-Smith played for the team. The Virginia Parole Board voted unanimously in July 2023 to release Smith, and he was released in December.
He had served 28 years, nine months, and 10 days of his sentence.
According to Finney-Smith, the family had to wait until the elder Smith was allowed to travel. He and Finney-Smith鈥檚 mother, Desiree, arrived in New York on Friday.
鈥淗e鈥檚 been having the window down, looking at all the buildings,鈥� Finney-Smith said. 鈥淵ou know, comparing it to when he came here in 1994. He remembers Brooklyn back in the day. He keeps saying Barclays wasn鈥檛 here and stuff like that, so he obviously knew New York history.鈥�
The Nets, who were eliminated from postseason contention Wednesday, recognized the personal significance of the game for Finney-Smith, who they acquired from the Mavericks last year as part of the trade for Kyrie Irving.
鈥淵eah, we talked but not to the extent of what it鈥檚 going to mean and all that,鈥� interim coach Kevin Ollie said. 鈥淚 know it鈥檚 going to be significant for him, and he鈥檚 going to handle it like a pro. He鈥檚 going to compartmentalize it and go out there and do his job, but I imagine he鈥檒l have some special joy inside for his dad to watch him finally play.
鈥淪o hopefully, he鈥檒l go out there and do his thing, I know he will. He鈥檚 the ultimate pro when it comes to things like this, so I don鈥檛 expect anything different for him. Hopefully, we can get him a win tonight.鈥�
Denis P. Gorman, The Associated Press
