Indiana Pacers: Top 10 NBA Draft picks in franchise history

7. Rik Smits (C) – No. 2 pick in 1988 NBA Draft

Career stats (with the Pacers):  867 GP, 14.8 PPG, 6.1 RPG, 1.4 APG, 1.3 BPG, 0.4 SPG, 1.8 TOV 50.7 FG%, 77.3 FG%

Back in 1988, most basketball fans had never even heard of Rik Smits. Smits played for tiny Marist College, so his productivity and height (7’4″) were not enough to garner him much attention in the pre-internet age.

The Indiana Pacers used the secnd overall pick in the draft that year on Smits, insisting at the time that he was not a long-term project, but a player who would succeed in the NBA after a short time in pro basketball.

Smits was initially supposed to be a backup and learn from veteran center Steve Stipanovich, but those plans had to be altered when Stipanovich was not able to recover from a degenerative knee condition.

Rik Smits was thrown into the fire early, and acquitted himself very well. Smits had excellent post skills and also possessed a nice mirdange shooting touch.

The big man from the Netherlands certainly had his limitations as well — he was not very athletic, and he was below-average as a rebounder and shot-blocker for someone so tall.

Despite those shortcomings, Rik Smits was among the best centers of his era, even making the NBA All-Star team in 1998 when there were several other outstanding centers playing in the Eastern Conference at the time.

Many people doubted Rik Smits when he was chosen near the top of the NBA Draft in 1988, but his offensive ability and perseverance made him a very solid draft pick for the Pacers.