I didn't realise how agile and skilled the Dunking Dutchman was. If he only stayed a little longer, maybe he would've crossed paths with Ron Artest and Jermaine O'Neal and they could've won the 2005 championship
Rik Smits would've been 39 in 2005. I don't think he would've lasted longer given for much of his 12 year NBA stint, had lingering pain problems on both feet.
@@airkuna He said that in "open court" on ESPN and also in this article from SI below. NOV 28, 2017 Shaq Says Rik Smits Gave Him Fits During Career "Rik destroyed me every time. Oh, my God. Pick-and-pop, jump hook in the post, I couldn't stop that kid. If it wasn't for his foot problems," he said. "I probably [never would] have been able to stop him. When we played them in the [2000] Finals, I had to go back to some old tape. I saw that this guy used to kill me, so now that I'm here in the Finals, I got to kill him immediately so he understands this is a different Shaq." O'Neal did get the best of Smits and the Pacers in the 2000 NBA finals, averaging 38 points and almost 17 rebounds per game in the Los Angeles Lakers six-game triumph. "So I had to work my way up. The only advantage I had against those guys was that they were getting older and I was still young," O'Neal adds.
Guys like Rik Smits and Rony Seikaly are the most overlooked and underrated players in there era with the big centers. Ironically both guys are from the same 1988 NBA Draft Class and both would retire a year apart (Seikaly in 1999 and Smits in 2000).
Rik Smits the Dunkin' Dutchman was so good in his prime... If he played in today's modern NBA he'd be a MVP nearly every year. What Nikola Jokic is now is what Rik Smits was back then.
The best Pacers center ever and one of the 3 centers Shaq has said gave him fits...Hakeem, Ewing were the other two. One of the best shooting bigs ever. Shame that injuries derailed his career
@@ussrsniper1877 In what dimension was Rik Smits more "versatile". Hakeem could pull up and crossover, guard multiple positions, and was way more skilled in terms of finishing and in the post. He also was more athletic and a better passer and considerably better rebounder.
Until this day that jersey blue and yello mini stripes is still for me the best jersey there was @Pacers please provide us duchties with a signed jersey 45
One of the best forgotten modern era big men. Silent assassin in the paint. I remember wanting to play like that, always cutting to the basket looking for the running lay up (in my middle school imagination, they were dunks.) 🏀🗑😆🤣
rik smits was a VERY AVERAGE player and the BEST MOST ELITE minorities ever are still #1 LEGEND larry bird a REAL REAL close #2 jerry west #3 bob pettit #4 pete maravich #5 george mikan #6 bob cousy #7 john havlicek #8 bill sharman #9 tom heinsohn and #10 don nelson
I was born in Seattle in 1973, where I grew up. Sonics and Blazers fan. Japanese-American. No, Rik Smits wasn't perfect, but if the Blazers or Sonics had Smits, they would have won a championship. Smits was definitely better than Kevin Duckworth, better than dotage Arvydas Sabonis, and better than Ervin Johnson.
@@jarenrosedotcom6402 Hi. It's because, all of the said videos feature players who I grew up watching. Please note my birth year, and that 1993-94 was among the BEST years of my life, and 1996 was pretty special, too. I used to be a HUGE NBA fan. I lived and died with every Sonics win and loss. After taking a break as an NBA fan, I got back into it in 1989-90. After the Sonics left after 2007-08, I lost touch, because I'd learn who was on the other teams, when I saw them play the Sonics. As for "throwback videos," here's one of MY big things: There are SO many players, who I did NOT know could dunk, and didn't believe it until I saw it: Bill Laimbeer, Blair Rasmussen, Alexander Volkov, Mark Aguirre, Isiah Thomas, Bobby Hurley, Marc Acres, Tim McCormick, Paul Mokeski, Mike Gminski, Larry Krystkowiak. Also, these basketball videos "take me back to happier times in my life." (aka before 2003, when my Dad unexpectedly passed away)
I didn't realise how agile and skilled the Dunking Dutchman was. If he only stayed a little longer, maybe he would've crossed paths with Ron Artest and Jermaine O'Neal and they could've won the 2005 championship
I commented above, how a Rik Smits could have helped my Blazers and Sonics win a championship.
Rik Smits would've been 39 in 2005. I don't think he would've lasted longer given for much of his 12 year NBA stint, had lingering pain problems on both feet.
He was one of the most skilled centers in 90's. Shaq said Rik used to kill Shaq early on. Really miss the old Pacers.
u mean shaq said this about rik and himself?
@@airkuna yes he did mention that
@@jymiller31 when
@@airkuna He said that in "open court" on ESPN and also in this article from SI below.
NOV 28, 2017
Shaq Says Rik Smits Gave Him Fits During Career
"Rik destroyed me every time. Oh, my God. Pick-and-pop, jump hook in the post, I couldn't stop that kid. If it wasn't for his foot problems," he said. "I probably [never would] have been able to stop him. When we played them in the [2000] Finals, I had to go back to some old tape. I saw that this guy used to kill me, so now that I'm here in the Finals, I got to kill him immediately so he understands this is a different Shaq."
O'Neal did get the best of Smits and the Pacers in the 2000 NBA finals, averaging 38 points and almost 17 rebounds per game in the Los Angeles Lakers six-game triumph.
"So I had to work my way up. The only advantage I had against those guys was that they were getting older and I was still young," O'Neal adds.
@@jymiller31 yeah , smith was 100% more skilled than shaq..shaq was just stronger.
All round great center !!! Shoot pass rebound. , Hook shot , man I miss the bang em up tuff 90s !!! Rik Smits very underated !!!
So underrated the Pacers have yet to retire his number.
If you didn't know, now you do. Rik Smits is one of the all time great Pacers. And probably the purest shooting big man in NBA history.
Scoring: AAA. Shooting: AAA. Intangibles: B. Overall: AA.
Yet they haven't retired his number. So much for being an all time great Pacer.
Idk why they didn't retire his jersey? He's 2nd on several franchise records.
probably because he's white...
So much for being an all time great Pacer.
Best Dutch basketballer there ever has been. Dunking against the 90s Bulls 😎
The Dunkin Dutchman 💯
Brings back some great childhood memories!
Guys like Rik Smits and Rony Seikaly are the most overlooked and underrated players in there era with the big centers. Ironically both guys are from the same 1988 NBA Draft Class and both would retire a year apart (Seikaly in 1999 and Smits in 2000).
Facts and Brad Daugherty
Rik Smits the Dunkin' Dutchman was so good in his prime...
If he played in today's modern NBA he'd be a MVP nearly every year.
What Nikola Jokic is now is what Rik Smits was back then.
Smits isn't passer Jokic is (who is more like Larry Bird). Porzingis is more like Smits, but minus the grit and toughness.
@@mr.sinjin-smyth smits is 7'4 and jokic 6'11..no comparison
Lotta pple forget about rik but he was very skilled....him and reggie were a great 1 2 punch
He was athletic enough to do all this hence the Dunkin Dutchman. But he preferred the finesse mid range type of game
He needs to show Myles Turner some things...
Great video!! Can we have some more old school clips like this?! 🤔
Underrated
Man I use to love Smits, but I never realized he's 7'4"! You use to give my boy Shaq fits.
The best Pacers center ever and one of the 3 centers Shaq has said gave him fits...Hakeem, Ewing were the other two. One of the best shooting bigs ever. Shame that injuries derailed his career
He was the most versatile center of the 90s
Not even close! Dream was worlds better and had a deeper bag of tricks!
@@RossDeGrate versatile and better mean different thing
@@ussrsniper1877 In what dimension was Rik Smits more "versatile". Hakeem could pull up and crossover, guard multiple positions, and was way more skilled in terms of finishing and in the post. He also was more athletic and a better passer and considerably better rebounder.
he is the type of center a basketball team wants to have
Facts
Until this day that jersey blue and yello mini stripes is still for me the best jersey there was @Pacers please provide us duchties with a signed jersey 45
I knew about Rik Smits 'cause a Fault in Our Stars character wears a Pacers jersey in a scene
One of the best forgotten modern era big men. Silent assassin in the paint. I remember wanting to play like that, always cutting to the basket looking for the running lay up (in my middle school imagination, they were dunks.)
🏀🗑😆🤣
He moved very well for his size.
Next a Mark Jackson compilation.
I liked the dunks on Ewing and Mutombo the best
I think Indiana gonna draft Sotto
Looks like Kai sotto now
I see Kai Sotto in his Prime if Indiana draft him.
He went undrafted.
rik smits was a VERY AVERAGE player and the BEST MOST ELITE minorities ever are still #1 LEGEND larry bird a REAL REAL close #2 jerry west #3 bob pettit #4 pete maravich #5 george mikan #6 bob cousy #7 john havlicek #8 bill sharman #9 tom heinsohn and #10 don nelson
Rik Smits was a problem!!
Dutch pride
feed yer big man
Too many craftly assisted by Mark Jackson. Smith had a great finish.
NYK 45 RickFlag Fenrir Fenris HELL#A!S Wolves 🐺 = Jerry R.I.C.E “80” 45 Julius Randle Cole Aldrich S.A.T A+ Grade
I was born in Seattle in 1973, where I grew up. Sonics and Blazers fan. Japanese-American. No, Rik Smits wasn't perfect, but if the Blazers or Sonics had Smits, they would have won a championship. Smits was definitely better than Kevin Duckworth, better than dotage Arvydas Sabonis, and better than Ervin Johnson.
@@jarenrosedotcom6402 Hi. It's because, all of the said videos feature players who I grew up watching. Please note my birth year, and that 1993-94 was among the BEST years of my life, and 1996 was pretty special, too. I used to be a HUGE NBA fan. I lived and died with every Sonics win and loss. After taking a break as an NBA fan, I got back into it in 1989-90. After the Sonics left after 2007-08, I lost touch, because I'd learn who was on the other teams, when I saw them play the Sonics. As for "throwback videos," here's one of MY big things: There are SO many players, who I did NOT know could dunk, and didn't believe it until I saw it: Bill Laimbeer, Blair Rasmussen, Alexander Volkov, Mark Aguirre, Isiah Thomas, Bobby Hurley, Marc Acres, Tim McCormick, Paul Mokeski, Mike Gminski, Larry Krystkowiak. Also, these basketball videos "take me back to happier times in my life." (aka before 2003, when my Dad unexpectedly passed away)
wow ..he didn't have to jump big to be able to dunk...