Report: Lakers F Dorian Finney-Smith has ankle surgery

Field Level Media|published: Thu 12th June, 18:52 2025

Apr 27, 2025; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Los Angeles Lakers forward Dorian Finney-Smith (17) heads to the sidelines to inbound the ball against the Minnesota Timberwolves in the third quarter during game four of first round for the 2025 NBA Playoffs at Target Center. Mandatory Credit: Matt Blewett-Imagn Images

Los Angeles Lakers forward Dorian Finney-Smith had surgery on his left ankle and is expected to be ready for fall training camp for next season, ESPN reported on Thursday.

Finney-Smith, 32, has played through the lingering injury for several years, according to the report, and the surgery will make him pain-free. He missed eight games last season due to left ankle issues, per Lakers' injury reports, after sitting out 12 games with the Brooklyn Nets for a sprained left ankle and a left calf contusion which he had said was related to the ankle issue.

Finney-Smith averaged 7.9 points, 3.6 rebounds and 1.4 assists in 43 regular-season games (20 starts) with the Lakers, who acquired him from Brooklyn on Dec. 29, 2024. Los Angeles was 29-14 in games he played, including 14-6 as a starter, and qualified as the Western Conference's No. 3 seed in the playoffs.

He averaged 10.4 points, 4.6 rebounds and 1.6 assists in 20 games (all starts) with the Nets last season.

For his career, Finney-Smith has averaged 8.3 points, 4.5 rebounds, 1.4 assists and 28.0 minutes in 591 games (444 starts) for the Dallas Mavericks (2016-23), Nets (2023-24) and Lakers.

Finney-Smith has a June 29 deadline to opt out of the final year of his contract, with a value of $15.4 million for next season. He has been eligible since mid-February to negotiate an extension before the beginning of free agency on June 30.

--Field Level Media

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