NBA: 10 most underrated performers of the season so far

7. Dorian Finney-Smith

Dorian Finney-Smith is everything the Dallas Mavericks, and any other NBA team for that matter, could ask for in a 3-and-D wing. He shoots the three at a high clip (37.1 percent) and plays elite-level defense on the other team’s best player. Finney-Smith is instrumental to the Mavericks’ success this season. He’s started 60 of the Mavericks 63 games this season and is a perfect complement to Doncic and Porzingis.

Finney-Smith signed a 3 year, $12 million dollar contract this past summer and so far this season, it’s looking like a bargain. He brings all the intangibles to the table, similar to a guy like Robert Covington and is never brought up in the “best top three-and-D wing in the league” conversation. Finney-Smith has a defensive rating of 109.2 this season, Covington is at 109.3, and an offensive rating of 116.5, Covington is at 110.0, according to NBA.com.

While I do believe Covington is still a marginally better play than Finney-Smith, the fact is he gets a lot more credit for what he does on both ends of the floor. The Mavericks struck gold in Dorian Finney-Smith who is not only on a bargain contract but also complements their best players perfectly.