It’s been a mini carnival in the Los Angeles Lakers locker room since Dorian Finney-Smith arrived from the Brooklyn Nets. In the process, the head coach JJ Redick has found his friend back. And their shenanigans are a delight amidst the intensity of the NBA. Meanwhile, the 31-year-old guard has taken up the team’s talker role. But then, he’s all about providing the much-needed energy while LeBron James and Anthony Davis are the leaders who make major decisions for the team.

Finney-Smith has brought the Lakers something they were missing. He’s a menace on defense—hounding Jayson Tatum one night, locking down the Warriors the next. He’s all hustle, diving into shooters, swiping at ball handlers, and never taking a play off. Offense? No fuss. He’s always ready to shoot and quickly sprints back when he doesn’t get the ball. And the best part? He’s loud. Calling out plays, hyping up teammates, and ensuring everyone knows he’s there.

“I try to be an energy giver. So I just don’t shut up. I just talk. And I’m gonna make sure you hear my voice as much as I can,” Finney-Smith told the Los Angeles Times. “And it can’t be [LeBron James] and [Anthony Davis] doing the talking. They’re the ones who gotta make the decisions. They got a lot of stuff [to handle]. So the rest of us can be the energy givers.” Undoubtedly, Bron and AD are the leaders or rather the flagbearers of the Los Angeles Lakers, But this role and their demands for depth in the roster leave the window for Rob Pelinka.

“The talk is contagious, and the toughness too,” Redick said, diving into leadership. “We all are leaders.” The Lakers HC praised Max Christie: “Just because you’re 21 doesn’t mean you can’t lead.” Then came DFS. “His version of leading looks different—different from Austin Reaves, from LeBron.” The key? “Doe is comfortable with who he is—the player, the person. People gravitate toward that. They want to follow that. That’s what Doe is.”

At the same time, even LeBron James didn’t hold back from commending the Lakers newbie. James said Finney-Smith is “exactly what we needed.” Reaves said that the veteran has been nothing but “fantastic.” Thus amidst the roster and trade troubles in the team, DFS has emerged as the new speck of hope for the team. Since his arrival, the team’s win trajectory has spiked positively. This is what the Lakers need, now throw in a perfect trade and they’ll have the depth they need to clinch their 18th NBA title.

Los Angeles Lakers have secured a gem in Dorian Finney-Smith

Since his debut on Dec. 31, the Lakers have outscored opponents by 51 points with Finney-Smith on the floor. No one on the team has a better rating. Five players have logged more minutes, yet his impact stands out. And that’s just the beginning. Meanwhile, Austin Reaves couldn’t have said it better: “You could forget the basketball side. His energy, his personality.” From day one, DFS showed a “win-first mentality.” “He and Shake are the same way. They care about winning and doing whatever they can to help us.” Add his “long, versatile defense” and ability to “make open shots,” and it’s a game-changer. But above all, “he’s selfless, cares about everybody, and wants to win.” 

Moreover, the Los Angeles Lakers head coach JJ Redick seems more than happy to have his old friend and former Mavericks teammate around him. But, their relationship so far has been a lot about teasing. Four days after joining the Lakers, Finney-Smith became Redick’s target. Redick mocked him with a “dismissive voice” and called his first-half performance “awful.”

After the Lakers crushed the Celtics, Redick said Finney-Smith’s two shots “looked like he’d never touched a basketball before.” Harsh, right? “Yeah,” Finney-Smith grinned. “I like that.” Why? “I respect people who are honest with me,” he said. “That’s how you know they really care.” But, all these are lighthearted exchanges between the two friends. Even the locker room is aware of the bond Redick and DFS share. “It makes it easier to have a guy in the locker room that you can do that to. Cause I actually think it’s good for the group. The group knows I’m obviously joking. He knows I’m joking,” Redick said.

Dorian Finney-Smith has quickly become the Los Angeles Lakers’ spark. His defense, hustle, and leadership have energized the team. Teased by JJ Redick, he embraces honesty, knowing it shows care. Since his arrival, the team’s wins have surged, and with LeBron James and AD’s leadership, and DFS’s energy things could turn into the key to their 18th title. Who knows?