Dorian Finney-Smith (ankle) likely to miss regular-season games for Rockets

Veteran forward Dorian Finney-Smith, who signed with Houston as a free agent in July, is very bullish on his fit with the Rockets.

“I love playing with a bunch of people who take pride in guarding guys, and whenever you play Houston, you know it’s going to be a tough game,” Finney-Smith said at Monday’s media day to begin training camp.

“Sometimes the referee can’t call all the fouls, because they’re going to hit you every possession,” he joked. “It’s exciting to be on this side.”

Finney-Smith cited his defensive communication, desire to win, and competitive mentality as key aspects of his game. So, too, is last season’s 3-point shooting percentage of 41.1% — a career-best number.

Unfortunately, Finney-Smith isn’t yet a full participant in training camp. The 32-year-old underwent surgery in June to correct a lingering ankle injury from recent seasons, and head coach Ime Udoka confirmed Wednesday that he isn’t yet cleared for contact.

“No contact, but doing all the shooting and other things, as well as getting treatment during practice,” Udoka said of Finney-Smith’s current status.

When asked if the Rockets expect Finney-Smith to be ready for the Oct. 21 regular-season opener at Oklahoma City, Udoka said “no, probably not.”

Udoka said he does not yet know how long Finney-Smith’s debut will be delayed. The ankle procedure took place in early June, so the Rockets were aware of it when they agreed to sign him on June 30.

In comments at Monday’s media day, the 6-foot-7 forward suggested that it wouldn’t be a lengthy delay.

“Soon,” Finney-Smith said of a potential return timetable. “I’ve been running, so it’s been getting better.”

His ankle injury had reportedly lingered in previous seasons.

“I’m a competitor, I want to play, but sometimes I probably made the injury worse because I don’t like to sit out,” he explained. “You might have to save me from myself, and I wish I’d have somebody to tell me to take it easy, two years ago. But that’s what got me here. Being that hard-nosed guy, sometimes the things that get you where you’re at can also hurt you. So, I’m learning, and sometimes I have to listen to my body.”

Now 32 years old, Finney-Smith averaged 69.9 games per season (at 29.5 minutes per game) over the last seven NBA seasons, and he also played in 40 additional playoff games (at 35.5 minutes) over that span.

That type of mileage appears to have taken a cumulative toll — and while the expectation is for the surgery to resolve the issue, it may require a bit more recovery time over the coming weeks.

For now, any Finney-Smith absence could open up more minutes at Houston’s forward spots for players such as Jabari Smith Jr., Tari Eason, and Jae’Sean Tate.

Besides his versatile defense, Finney-Smith should be missed on offense as a shooter and floor spacer. To this point in their young NBA careers, Smith, Eason, and Tate have yet to have a shooting season even close to Finney-Smith’s 41.1% clip from 3-point range.

DAY 2 of @HoustonRockets training camp

Ime Udoka talks the status of Dorian Finney-Smith & what the team is working on in camp#Rockets open the preseason Monday against the Hawks Coverage will begin at 6:30PM on SCHN pic.twitter.com/ImkkO2NrZb

— Space City Home Network (@SpaceCityHN) October 1, 2025

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