The Houston Rockets’ preseason optimism has taken an early hit. Already reeling from Fred VanVleet’s torn ACL, head coach Ime Udoka confirmed that offseason acquisition Dorian Finney-Smith is also likely to miss the start of the 2024–25 campaign as he recovers from ankle surgery.
Dorian Finney-Smith, who signed with Houston after leaving the Lakers, underwent a procedure on his left ankle in June to address an issue that had nagged him for the past two years. Speaking at media day, the veteran forward admitted he likely made things worse by playing through the pain. “I probably made the injury worse because my nut-ass don’t want to sit down,” he said candidly. “Sometimes you’ve got to be saved from yourself. I’m learning to listen to my body more.”
While he has been cleared for non-contact drills and shooting, Udoka doesn’t expect the 31-year-old to be ready for opening night on October 21. “He’s doing all the shooting and treatment during practice, but no contact,” the coach said. “We’ll see how many games he misses.”
Dorian Finney-Smith’s absence is particularly painful given what he was brought in to provide. After shooting a career-high 41.1 percent from three-point range last season with Dallas and Los Angeles, he was expected to bolster Houston’s perimeter attack, an area where the team ranked near the bottom of the league. With VanVleet and Finney-Smith sidelined, the Rockets are temporarily without two of their most reliable shooters and defenders.
The ripple effect is clear. Jabari Smith Jr. and Tari Eason suddenly face bigger roles, with Jeff Green and Jae’Sean Tate also in line for more minutes. Smith, who started the first 33 games last season before breaking his hand, admitted Udoka hasn’t yet told him if he’ll return to the starting five. Eason, meanwhile, has openly stated his desire for an expanded offensive role.
There are other health concerns, too. Steven Adams (knee) and Eason (leg) are both coming off surgeries, and the Rockets may ease them into back-to-backs, though the first such test doesn’t come until early December.
Still, there are silver linings. Dorian Finney-Smith’s delayed debut opens the door for younger players to prove themselves, while VanVleet’s absence provides Amen Thompson with an immediate trial by fire. For a rebuilding team trying to make the leap toward contention, early adversity could harden the rotation before the grind of the season.
The Rockets may stumble out of the gate, but Udoka is betting that patience now will pay dividends later in the year.
