Rik Smits
Rik Smits was born on the 23rd of August 1966 in Eindhoven, Netherlands. He began playing basketball at age 14 for a local club called PSV, Almonte. The tall young man left his home country in 1984 to attend Marist College in the United States. His four years there transformed him from a European prospect into an NBA-ready center. In 1986 he led Marist to their first NCAA tournament appearance ever. Two years later he helped the Red Foxes win 20 games for the first time in Division I history. A brief cameo in the 1987 film Coming to America added to his growing profile before the draft. The Indiana Pacers selected him second overall in the 1988 NBA draft. This made him the first player from Marist College to ever play in the league.
Smits originally served as a backup to veteran Steve Stipanovich during his rookie season. When Stipanovich suffered a career-ending injury early on, Smits stepped into the starting lineup immediately. He ended up starting 71 games that year while averaging 11.7 points and 6.1 rebounds per game. Basketball magazines recognized his effort by naming him to the All-Rookie First Team. He maintained double-digit scoring averages throughout every single year of his professional career. It was not until the 1993, 94 season that he truly emerged as a team leader. By then he had become the number two option behind Reggie Miller on a deep roster. His highest point-per-game average came in 1995, 96 when he averaged 18.5 points per game. On the 10th of December 1995, he scored a career-high 44 points in a win over the Los Angeles Clippers.
Pacers fans remembered Smits for outstanding playoff performances rather than regular season stats. Game 4 of the 1995 Eastern Conference Finals featured a buzzer-beating shot that tied the series. That moment cemented his status as a clutch performer in the eyes of Indiana supporters. The league honored him further by selecting him to the Eastern Conference All-Star Team in 1998. During that game he delivered ten points, seven rebounds, and four assists. A behind-the-back pass to New Jersey Nets forward Jayson Williams set up an immediate slam dunk. The Pacers reached the NBA Finals in 2000 after defeating the Los Angeles Lakers in six games. Smits retired at the conclusion of that 1999, 2000 season following their loss.
Foot problems hobbled Smits for the majority of his playing career due to nerve damage. He developed this condition from wearing tight shoes during his teenage years in Europe. To help recover during off-seasons he spent time relaxing at his summer retreat in Walton, New York. There he was a regular attendee of The Afton Fair. Four surgeries were required just to repair the nerve damage in his feet alone. He also underwent intensive back surgery in November 2009 to correct cracks in one joint linking his vertebrae. Arthroscopic surgery on his left knee followed later along with bone chips removed from his ankle. These physical issues contributed to his decision to retire after the 1999, 2000 season.
After retirement Smits devoted his time to collecting and racing vintage motocross motorcycles. Yahoo! Sports featured him on the 30th of November 2011 regarding his formal participation in competitive racing. In 2008 he won the AHRMA Vintage National Premier 500 Intermediate Class riding a BSA 500. He bought a home in Zionsville, Indiana near Indianapolis toward the end of his playing career in 1998. He lived there for nearly 20 years before expanding it in 2014 to include a regulation-size basketball half-court. Two barns on the property housed his motorcycles and cars while a dedicated track sat in the rear. He and his girlfriend put the property up for sale in the summer of 2017 shortly after moving to Arizona.
Smits has two children named Jasmine and Derrik who both entered the basketball industry. Jasmine Smits currently serves as the Player Relations Coordinator for the Indiana Pacers and their farm team. Her role involves managing relationships with players at both the main club and the Noblesville Boom. Derrik Smits played for the Valparaiso University men's basketball team from 2016 to 2019. He finished his final season of college eligibility in 2019, 20 at Butler University. Derrik was forced to redshirt the 2015, 16 season due to an injury before beginning play the following year. He graduated from Valparaiso in December 2018 taking graduate-level courses that spring term. His graduation made him immediately eligible to play at Butler University.
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Common questions
When and where was Rik Smits born?
Rik Smits was born on the 23rd of August 1966 in Eindhoven, Netherlands. He began playing basketball at age 14 for a local club called PSV, Almonte.
What team did Rik Smits play for after college?
The Indiana Pacers selected him second overall in the 1988 NBA draft. This made him the first player from Marist College to ever play in the league.
Why did Rik Smits retire from professional basketball?
Foot problems hobbled Smits for the majority of his playing career due to nerve damage caused by wearing tight shoes during his teenage years in Europe. These physical issues contributed to his decision to retire after the 1999, 2000 season following four surgeries to repair nerve damage in his feet alone.
How many children does Rik Smits have and what do they do?
Smits has two children named Jasmine and Derrik who both entered the basketball industry. Jasmine Smits currently serves as the Player Relations Coordinator for the Indiana Pacers and their farm team while Derrik Smits played for the Valparaiso University men's basketball team from 2016 to 2019.
When was Rik Smits born and where did he attend college?
Rik Smits was born on the 23rd of August 1966 in Eindhoven, Netherlands. He left his home country in 1984 to attend Marist College in the United States.