Last Updated on October 5, 2026 by Orlando Bloom
Dorian Finney-Smith comes from a large and athletic family in Portsmouth, Virginia, whose influence has shaped both his basketball career and his approach to fatherhood. The Atlanta Hawks forward is the son of Desiree Finney-Henderson and Elbert Smith Jr. and grew up alongside five siblings: Ben, Sha-Kiyla, Ra-Shawn, Da-Shawn and Monnazjea.
Family has remained central to Finney-Smith throughout his NBA journey. He is married to longtime partner JazMyne Branch, whom he met during his college years at the University of Florida. Their household has grown into a large family of its own, with the couple saying they have raised five children together. Finney-Smith is publicly confirmed as the father of daughter Sinai and sons Dorian Jr. and Aysen.
Who Is Dorian Finney-Smith’s Wife?
Dorian Finney-Smith’s wife is JazMyne Branch. The couple married on August 23, 2025, at D’Vine Grace Vineyard in the Dallas area after being together for more than a decade.
Their relationship began while Finney-Smith was attending the University of Florida. According to the couple’s wedding story, they first crossed paths in Gainesville and later reconnected after seeing each other again at a local restaurant.
The relationship developed as Finney-Smith completed his college career and began his professional basketball journey. Branch remained alongside him through his years with the Dallas Mavericks and his later NBA moves.
Finney-Smith eventually proposed in a park in South Dallas. Branch described the proposal as an intimate occasion attended by their children and two close friends.
The couple chose August 23 for their wedding because the date already had special meaning in their relationship. Their 2025 ceremony was attended by approximately 190 relatives and friends.
Finney-Smith has credited Branch with keeping him grounded and encouraging him to move outside his comfort zone, while Branch has described her husband as someone who helps her appreciate the present.
Does Dorian Finney-Smith Have Children?
Yes. Dorian Finney-Smith is a father and has spoken frequently about how important parenthood is to him.
NBA reporting has specifically identified three of his children: Sinai, Dorian Jr. and Aysen. Meanwhile, Dorian and JazMyne’s official wedding story states that they have raised five children together.
The distinction is important because reliable public sources do not clearly document the biological parentage and full names of all five children in their blended household. Therefore, the publicly confirmed details should not be extended beyond what Dorian and JazMyne have chosen to share.
Sinai
Sinai is Dorian Finney-Smith’s oldest publicly documented child and his daughter.
Finney-Smith became a father to Sinai while he was still a teenager. He has since explained that becoming a young father gave him an added sense of responsibility and strengthened his desire to provide a stable future for his family.
Sinai has occasionally appeared alongside her father at basketball events. NBA reporting has also documented her close relationship with her grandfather, Elbert Smith Jr., following his return to the family in 2024.
Basketball appears to be part of their relationship as well, with Finney-Smith describing his daughter as someone who enjoys getting onto the court with members of the family.
Dorian Finney-Smith Jr.
Dorian Finney-Smith Jr. is one of Dorian’s sons.
His birth was publicly mentioned during Finney-Smith’s rookie season with the Dallas Mavericks, when his mother spoke about the arrival of her grandson.
Dorian Jr. has since appeared at family and basketball-related events alongside his father and siblings. Like the other Finney-Smith children, most details about his private life have appropriately remained outside the public spotlight.
Aysen
Aysen is another of Dorian Finney-Smith’s sons.
Aysen was publicly identified by the NBA in 2024 while reporting on the reunion between Finney-Smith and his father. At the time, Aysen was the youngest of the three children specifically named in the NBA profile.
Finney-Smith’s father quickly developed a relationship with his grandchildren after returning home, and Dorian has spoken positively about watching his children spend time with their grandfather.
Who Are Dorian Finney-Smith’s Parents?
Dorian Finney-Smith’s parents are Desiree Finney-Henderson and Elbert Smith Jr.
His childhood was shaped particularly strongly by his mother because his father was absent for most of his youth. Desiree raised a large family in Portsmouth while working to provide for her six children.
Dorian Finney-Smith’s Mother: Desiree Finney-Henderson
Desiree Finney-Henderson is Dorian Finney-Smith’s mother and one of the most important influences in his life.
Desiree was an athlete herself. During her high-school years at Woodrow Wilson High School in Portsmouth, she played basketball and became a talented player before family responsibilities changed the direction of her life.
She eventually raised six children, and athletics became a major part of the Finney household. Several of her sons and daughters went on to compete at the college level.
Desiree worked cleaning houses while supporting her family. Finney-Smith has frequently credited his mother’s work ethic and sacrifices with shaping his own mentality.
She was also deeply involved in her children’s sports careers. Desiree became known for attending their games, encouraging them and making sure they continued working toward their goals.
Dorian eventually carried those lessons from Portsmouth into college basketball and then into an NBA career that began when he signed with the Dallas Mavericks in 2016.
Dorian Finney-Smith’s Father: Elbert Smith Jr.
Elbert Smith Jr., also known within the family as “Big L,” is Dorian Finney-Smith’s father.
Elbert was incarcerated when Dorian was very young and consequently missed most of his son’s childhood and early basketball career. He spent nearly three decades in prison before being released in 2024.
Despite the long separation, father and son gradually rebuilt their relationship through telephone calls, letters and other forms of communication.
Finney-Smith has explained that counseling during his college years helped him process his feelings surrounding his father’s absence and eventually helped strengthen their relationship.
Elbert’s release in 2024 created an emotional new chapter for the family. For the first time in decades, he was able to spend Father’s Day with Dorian in person and build relationships with his grandchildren.
He was also able to attend an NBA game involving his son, something that had been impossible throughout most of Dorian’s professional career.
Who Are Dorian Finney-Smith’s Siblings?
Dorian Finney-Smith grew up as one of six children. His five siblings are Ben Finney, Sha-Kiyla Finney, Ra-Shawn Finney, Da-Shawn Finney and Monnazjea Finney-Smith.
The Finney family was exceptionally athletic. Several siblings competed in basketball at the college level, while Ra-Shawn was a talented football player.
Ben Finney
Ben Finney is Dorian Finney-Smith’s older brother and another accomplished basketball player in the family.
Ben earned an NCAA Division I basketball scholarship to Old Dominion University. His college career made him one of the first members of the family to compete at a major collegiate level.
Dorian grew up watching his older siblings compete, and those experiences helped expose him to competitive basketball long before he became a nationally ranked high-school prospect himself.
Sha-Kiyla Finney
Sha-Kiyla Finney is one of Dorian Finney-Smith’s older sisters.
She also played Division I basketball, competing for the University of Maryland Eastern Shore.
Sha-Kiyla’s college career further demonstrates how deeply athletics were embedded within the Finney family. Dorian was therefore surrounded by older siblings who understood the commitment necessary to play basketball beyond high school.
Ra-Shawn Finney
Ra-Shawn Finney, affectionately known as “Peanut,” was one of Dorian Finney-Smith’s older brothers and the twin brother of Da-Shawn.
Ra-Shawn was a promising high-school football player and an important male influence within the family during Dorian’s childhood.
He died as a teenager in 2008 as a result of gun violence. Dorian was 15 years old at the time, and the loss had a profound effect on him and his family.
Finney-Smith has continued honoring his brother’s memory throughout his basketball career. He has spoken about using the experience as motivation to pursue his goals and support his family.
Da-Shawn Finney
Da-Shawn Finney is Ra-Shawn’s twin brother and one of Dorian Finney-Smith’s older brothers.
Da-Shawn was also an athlete and played basketball during his school years. Growing up with several athletic older brothers provided Dorian with constant competition and examples to follow.
Unlike Dorian, Da-Shawn has largely remained outside the national media spotlight, and relatively little verified information about his adult personal life has been publicly documented.
Monnazjea Finney-Smith
Monnazjea Finney-Smith is Dorian Finney-Smith’s younger sister.
She continued the family’s basketball tradition by playing college basketball at Virginia Commonwealth University.
Florida’s coverage of Dorian’s family described Monnazjea as the youngest of Desiree’s six children, making Dorian the youngest son but not the youngest child overall.
Her college basketball career meant that at least four members of the Finney family — Ben, Sha-Kiyla, Dorian and Monnazjea — reached the Division I level in basketball.
How Did Dorian Finney-Smith’s Family Influence His Basketball Career?
Dorian Finney-Smith’s basketball development was inseparable from his family environment.
His mother had played basketball herself, while several of his older siblings competed in organized sports. Dorian spent considerable time watching his brothers and sisters play before developing into an elite player of his own.
At I.C. Norcom High School in Portsmouth, he became one of Virginia’s leading prospects and helped the program win consecutive state championships.
He initially attended Virginia Tech before transferring to the University of Florida, where he developed into an important player for the Gators.
Finney-Smith went undrafted in the 2016 NBA Draft but earned a roster spot with the Dallas Mavericks. His defensive versatility, rebounding, physicality and improving three-point shooting eventually helped him establish a long NBA career.
Dorian Finney-Smith’s Relationship With His Father
One of the most significant family developments in Finney-Smith’s adult life was reconnecting with his father.
Elbert Smith Jr. had been absent for almost all of Dorian’s childhood because of his incarceration. For many years, their relationship existed primarily through calls and letters.
While attending Florida, Dorian received counseling that helped him address difficult experiences from his childhood. Former Florida coach Billy Donovan also encouraged him to rebuild communication with his father.
Over time, their conversations became more frequent and their relationship strengthened.
After Elbert was released in 2024, Dorian was finally able to introduce his father to family experiences he had missed, particularly spending everyday time with his grandchildren.
The reunion became an important moment not only for Dorian and Elbert but also for the next generation of the Finney-Smith family.
Dorian Finney-Smith and JazMyne Branch’s Family
Finney-Smith has said that seeing the close relationship JazMyne Branch had with her own family influenced the type of family environment he wanted to create for his children.
That desire became increasingly important as their relationship developed. The couple built a household together while Dorian’s NBA career required moves between different teams and cities.
By the time they married in August 2025, Dorian and JazMyne had already spent approximately 11 years together.
Their official wedding story says they have raised five children together. The family participated in important moments surrounding their engagement and marriage, reflecting how central their children are to the relationship.
Dorian Finney-Smith Family FAQs
Who is Dorian Finney-Smith’s wife?
Dorian Finney-Smith’s wife is JazMyne Branch. They married on August 23, 2025, after being together for more than a decade.
How did Dorian Finney-Smith meet JazMyne Branch?
Finney-Smith and Branch met while he was attending the University of Florida in Gainesville. Their relationship developed during his college years before continuing throughout his NBA career.
Does Dorian Finney-Smith have children?
Yes. NBA reporting specifically identifies three of Dorian Finney-Smith’s children as Sinai, Dorian Jr. and Aysen. Dorian and JazMyne’s wedding website says they have raised five children together.
Who is Dorian Finney-Smith’s daughter?
His publicly documented daughter is Sinai. Dorian became a father to Sinai while he was still a teenager.
Who are Dorian Finney-Smith’s sons?
His two sons specifically identified by NBA reporting are Dorian Finney-Smith Jr. and Aysen.
Who are Dorian Finney-Smith’s parents?
Dorian Finney-Smith’s parents are Desiree Finney-Henderson and Elbert Smith Jr.
Who is Dorian Finney-Smith’s mother?
His mother is Desiree Finney-Henderson, a former high-school basketball player who raised six athletic children in Portsmouth, Virginia.
Who is Dorian Finney-Smith’s father?
His father is Elbert Smith Jr., also known as Big L. He spent much of Dorian’s childhood incarcerated before being released in 2024 and reuniting with his son and grandchildren.
How many siblings does Dorian Finney-Smith have?
Dorian Finney-Smith has five siblings. He grew up as one of six children.
Who are Dorian Finney-Smith’s siblings?
His siblings are Ben Finney, Sha-Kiyla Finney, Ra-Shawn Finney, Da-Shawn Finney and Monnazjea Finney-Smith.
Did Dorian Finney-Smith’s siblings play basketball?
Yes. Ben played college basketball at Old Dominion, Sha-Kiyla competed at Maryland Eastern Shore and Monnazjea played at VCU. Several members of the Finney family were accomplished athletes.
What happened to Dorian Finney-Smith’s brother Ra-Shawn?
Ra-Shawn Finney died as a teenager in 2008 as a result of gun violence. He had been a promising football player and an important figure in Dorian’s childhood. Dorian has continued honoring his older brother’s memory throughout his basketball career.
Orlando Bloom is a sports journalist and analyst specializing in in-depth NBA coverage, tactical breakdowns, and advanced player analytics. With a passion for professional basketball, he covers everything from trade deadline maneuvers and Draft prospects to team strategies and league-wide trends. Combining detailed stat analysis with game context, Orlando delivers sharp insights and compelling stories for avid basketball fans and casual followers alike.
