Unless Asher Roth hasn't already enlightened you, let's learn together.
So next time you're doing a Sporcle quiz (like I was) and you don't know which NBA player was nicknamed "The Dunkin' Dutchman," you'll remember this and go, "Oh yeah, Rik Smits!"
That's right. This is educational.
The 7'4" Dutch centre was drafted second overall in the 1988 draft and spent his entire career with the Indiana Pacers. Known as the "Dunkin' Dutchman," Smits averaged 14.8 points and 6.1 rebounds per game for his career. Known for his height, there are only six players in NBA history who have been taller.
 |
| Not many players look down at Shaq |
Smits started his career averaging 11.7 points and 6.1 rebounds per game in 71 starts and earning All-Rookie First Team honors. He would go on to average at least 10 points per game in each and every season of his 12-year NBA career.
His peak season was 1995-96 when Smits scored 18.5 points per game, and helped the Pacers to 52 wins and a tight seven-game Eastern Finals loss to the Orlando Magic, averaging 20.1 points in the playoffs. During the series Smits hit the most memorable shot of his career.
As the Pacers second option behind Reggie Miller, Smits led Indiana on a few deep playoff runs in the mid-90s. In 1998 he made his lone All-Star Game appearance where he had 10 points and seven rebounds. The highlight of the game came when he threw an unexpected behind-the-back pass to Jayson Williams for a dunk.
Smits started in all 79 games he played in 1999-2000, his final season, averaging 12.9 points and 5.1 rebounds and taking the Pacers all the way to the NBA Finals where they lost to the Los Angeles Lakers, who were just beginning their threepeat. Chronic nerve problems in his feet then forced the Dunkin' Dutchman to hang up his size-18 Reeboks for good.
Now retired, Smits collects and races vintage motocross motorcycles.
All-in-all, a solid career that deserves to be remembered.
No comments:
Post a Comment