Rockets' Finney-Smith out to start season after ankle surgery

Dorian Finney-Smith is expected to miss the start of the Houston Rockets season as he recovers from offseason ankle surgery, coach Ime Udoka said Wednesday after a practice at training camp. The Rockets open on Oct. 21 against the Oklahoma City Thunder, and Udoka indicated Finney-Smith will "probably not" be ready for that game, though he declined to give a timetable for the forward's return.

Finney-Smith underwent a procedure on his left ankle in June to address a lingering issue and has not yet been cleared for contact. Udoka said the nine-year veteran has been participating in camp activities that do not involve contact, adding, "No contact, but doing all the shooting and other things as well as getting treatment during practice." Finney-Smith joined Houston this offseason on a four-year contract reported to be worth about $53 million after spending the 2024-25 season with the Los Angeles Lakers.

The injury compounds early roster complications for the Rockets. Point guard Fred VanVleet suffered a torn ACL in preseason training camp and will miss significant time. With both VanVleet and Finney-Smith sidelined to begin the season, Houston’s depth on the wing and perimeter...