There are only 3 players who stand 7’4″ or taller and averaged 10+ PPG during their NBA careers: Yao Ming, Ralph Sampson, and Rik Smits. Nicknamed “The Dunking Dutchman”, Smits was a 2-time NEC POY at Marist, was drafted 2nd overall by Indiana in 1988, was named an All-Star in 1998, and retired after making the NBA Finals in 2000. HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel got to chat with Rik about making a game-winning shot in the playoffs and being a great shot-blocker. Today is Rik’s 55th birthday so let us be the 1st to wish him a happy 1!
You were born in the Netherlands: how did you 1st get into basketball? My mom played for a club team when I was a teenager. A guy came up to me at a party 1 night and asked me to join a junior team so I figured I would give it a shot.
You were a 2-time NEC POY at Marist: what did it mean to you to win such outstanding honors? I was glad to win those awards but it was not a big deal because I would just take things as they came along.
In the summer of 1988 you were drafted 2nd overall by Indiana (1 spot behind Danny Manning): did you see that as a validation of your college career, or the realization of a lifelong dream of reaching the NBA, or other? I was really surprised: I never thought I would get drafted that high. I was always a self-doubter but getting picked by the Pacers gave me some instant confidence.
What are your memories of Game 5 of the 1991 Eastern Conference 1st round (Larry Bird scored 32 PTS in 33 minutes after coming back from a 2nd quarter concussion in a 3-PT win by Boston)? The Celtics had swept us the previous year but we played them much tougher in 1991. I remember being amazed at Larry’s talent and his ability to come back from his injury.
In Game 5 of the 1994 Eastern Conference Finals Reggie Miller scored 25 PTS in the 4th quarter of a 7-PT win over the Knicks at MSG: was it just 1 of those scenarios where every shot he put up seemed to go in because he was “in the zone”? I think so: he sure played that way. I only had that feeling a couple of times during my career.
Take me through the 1995 NBA playoffs:
In Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals Miller scored 8 PTS in 8.9 seconds of the 4th quarter to clinch a 2-PT win over the Knicks at MSG (www.youtube.com/watch?v=FDOqD8tV8Tc): where does that rank among the greatest clutch performances you have ever seen? It is definitely right up there: 1 of the best endings ever in my opinion. People still talk about it to this day.
In Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Finals you made a 16-foot jumper at the buzzer in a 1-PT win over Orlando (www.youtube.com/watch?v=OMr2hpfd2Tw): did you think your shot was going in, and where does that rank among the highlights of your career? I always had confidence in my shot but with Reggie on the team the ball rarely went to me at the end of games. That was 1 of the highlights of my career: I did not have a lot of game-winning shots in the NBA.
In Game 3 of the 1999 Eastern Conference Finals Larry Johnson scored 26 PTS and made his famous 4-PT play with 5.7 seconds left in a 1-PT win by the Knicks (www.youtube.com/watch?v=7xlCbpPN8rs): did you think the foul call on Antonio Davis was correct, and do you think that referee Jess Kersey should have allowed the basket to count due to continuation? I do not remember most of my losses: I guess I have just put them out of my mind!
Take me through the 2000 NBA playoffs:
In Game 5 of the Eastern Conference 1st round Miller scored 41 PTS and Ray Allen missed a shot at the buzzer in a 1-PT win over Milwaukee: how were you able to hang on for the win? I know that we were in trouble because Milwaukee was playing well that whole series.
In Game 2 of the Finals Coach Larry Bird employed the “Hack-a-Shaq” strategy as Shaquille O’Neal ended up with 40 PTS/24 REB and attempted a playoff-record 39 FT in a 7-PT win by the Lakers: did you agree with the strategy, and was Shaq just impossible to guard down in the post? Shaq was very hard to guard and was a tremendous player. You could try to take a charge on him…but you would get called for a foul 9 times out of 10. Obviously the strategy did not work because we did not win the game but we were happy to finally get to the Finals.
You played 12 years and still rank in the top-80 all-time with 1111 BLK: how satisfied are you with your career? I am satisfied. Looking back I wish that I could have played longer, but my back was starting to give me some trouble and I did not want another surgery after having so many previous surgeries. I had a great time in the NBA and made a good living at it so now I get to enjoy my retirement.