Nets leader Dorian Finney-Smith set to return from left ankle injury

Dorian Finney-Smith may not lead the Nets in scoring or rebounding, but make no mistake, he leads the Nets. And they’ll have him back for the first time since before Thanksgiving.

The veteran forward is off the injury report and said he’ll play in Sunday’s matinee vs. visiting Milwaukee after missing the past four games with a sprained left ankle.

“It’s a long season. Nobody’s really 100 percent, so I’m pretty sure everybody’s got some nags and bumps and bruises, but I feel better and I’m ready to play [Sunday],” Finney-Smith said. “Yeah, no question. You know I’m playing.”

Dorian Finney-Smith, 31, returns to the Nets ready to help lead a young roster that includes Ziaire Williams.AP

Finney-Smith practiced for a second straight day after having missed six of the past seven games with the ankle injury that cropped up at shootaround Nov. 11.

Nets coach Jordi Fernandez has talked about the need to protect Finney-Smith from himself because of his willingness to play hurt. That’s been a delicate balance — especially because at 31, Finney-Smith is getting old(er).

“Hell nah, I ain’t old,” Finney-Smith laughed. “Don’t do that because now they think 31 and 30 is old. It ain’t old. You’re just 30, so your body, it ain’t the same. You’ve got to take care of it. You’ve got to listen to it sometimes, and sometimes I tell my body what it wants to hear instead of listening to it.

“It’s a tough battle. They’re telling me I’m older now. The body takes a little more time to recover. You can’t just tie your shoe тιԍнтer and go back out there and think everything’s gonna be good like it used to be.

“But I appreciate it. Coach, for instance, we had a stint in the game in the fourth quarter and he’s like, ‘You good to go, Doe? You’re barely moving.’ I’m like, ‘S–t, you better not take me out of the game.’ I just want to win and be out there for my guys.”

Finney-Smith’s guys are better when he’s there for them, leading, defending and even spacing the floor.

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Dorian Finney-Smith and Cam Thomas earlier this seasonUSA TODAY Sports via Reuters Con

Nets sources often cite him as the grown-up in the room, and Trendon Watford even labeled him Mr. Positivity. His impact is very much that.

“Doe brings toughness, his veteran leadership that he brings to any team,” Watford said. “That’s what he’s made his name off of, just him being a leader and him being that tough guy, him just being a knockdown shooter and lock-down defender. We know what Doe brings every night, and we definitely can use it.”

Clearly. Brooklyn is plus-56 with Finney-Smith on the floor, by far the best on the team.

The next closest is a plus-10. In his recent absence, they’ve dropped three of those games and two by at least 23 points.

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