Rik Smits
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Rik Smits on a visit to New York's Marist College on Alumni Day
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| Player information | ||
|---|---|---|
| Nickname | The Dunkin Dutchman | |
| birthday | 23rd August 1966 | |
| place of birth | Eindhoven , Netherlands | |
| size | 224 cm | |
| Weight | 120 kg | |
| position | center | |
| college | Marist College | |
| NBA draft | 1988 , 2nd pick, Indiana Pacers | |
| league | NBA | |
| Jersey number | 24, 45 | |
| Clubs as active | ||
1988-2000 Indiana Pacers
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| National team 1 | ||
| 1986-2000 | Netherlands | |
| 1 As of September 29, 2015 | ||
Rik Smits (born August 23, 1966 in Eindhoven , Netherlands ) is a former Dutch basketball player in the NBA . He only played with the Indiana Pacers during his career . His nickname was "The Dunkin 'Dutchman".
Career
Smits began his basketball career at the age of 14 with PSV / Almonte in Eindhoven. When he was 18, he went to the United States to play for Marist College near New York City . He stayed in college for four years. In 1988 he moved to the NBA to the Indiana Pacers , who secured his rights in the 1988 NBA Draft in second place.
Initially only bought in as a replacement for Steve Stipanovich , Rik Smits developed into a regular player, as a serious injury forced Stipanovich to retire from his career. In his first year, Smits started 71 times in the Pacers' formation, scoring 11.7 points, 6.1 rebounds and 1.8 blocks per game.
In the mid-1990s, Smits and Reggie Miller became the Pacers team leader. The Pacers reached the playoffs every year with the exception of 1997. Smits' greatest successes were the All-Star nomination in 1998 and reaching the NBA finals in 2000, but where they lost to the Los Angeles Lakers .
Rik Smits' exhausting game caused serious and protracted injuries later in his career. On September 27, 2000, he announced his retirement from active sport after twelve seasons in the NBA because of persistent knee and foot injuries.
With his wife Candice, Smits has a daughter (Jasmine) and a son (Derrik).
statistics
Rik Smits played a total of 972 games in the NBA (867 season games, 104 play-off games and one all-star game ). He scored a total of 12,871 points (14.8 points average) in the regular season in his career. His personal best in a game he achieved on October 12, 1995 with 44 points against the LA Clippers . In 1998 he scored 10 points and 7 rebounds at the All-Star Game in New York.
successes
- NBA All-Rookie First Team (1988-1989)
- NBA Eastern Conference All Star (1998)
- NBA Player of The Week (1998)
- Rik Smits was elected to the jubilee team with 4th place and 20,786 votes at the 40th anniversary of the Indiana Pacers' club
Trivia
- Rik Smits was wearing American size 17 shoes
- He collects everything about the Roadrunner cartoon series
- In his free time he collects and restores vintage cars
Web links
| personal data | |
|---|---|
| SURNAME | Smits, Rik |
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES | Dunkin 'Dutchman, The |
| BRIEF DESCRIPTION | Dutch basketball player |
| DATE OF BIRTH | 23rd August 1966 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH | Eindhoven , Netherlands |