Last Updated on April 14, 2026 by Mat Diekhake

Rik SmitsHere’s the profile for Rik Smits:

Player Profile

  • Full Name: Rik Smits
  • Nickname: The Dunking Dutchman
  • Nationality: Dutch (Netherlands)
  • Date of Birth: August 23, 1966
  • Hometown: Eindhoven, Netherlands
  • Height: 7 feet 4 inches (224 cm)
  • Weight: 250 lbs (113 kg)
  • Wingspan: 7 feet 6 inches (229 cm)
  • Shoe Size: Wore size 20 shoes
  • Position: Center
  • Jersey Number: 24, 45 (Indiana Pacers)
  • Draft: 1988 NBA Draft, 1st Round, 2nd overall pick by the Indiana Pacers
  • College: Marist College (1984–1988)
    • Led Marist to its first NCAA tournament appearance in 1986.
  • High School: Attended high school in the Netherlands before moving to the United States for college; specific high school details aren’t widely documented.
  • Teams Played For: Indiana Pacers (1988–2000)
    • NBA All-Star in 1998.
    • Named to the NBA All-Rookie First Team in 1989.
    • Helped lead the Pacers to the NBA Finals in 2000.
  • Championship Rings: 0 NBA Championships
  • Children: Two
    • Daughter: Jasmine Smits, who serves as the Player Relations Coordinator for the Indiana Pacers and the Fort Wayne Mad Ants.
    • Son: Derrik Smits, a 7-foot center who played college basketball at Valparaiso University and later at Butler University.
  • Siblings: Information about his siblings is not widely documented.

Rik Smits fit the player archetype of a traditional low-post scoring center with touch-based offense, operating primarily as a half-court interior option who punished mismatches and spaced to midrange. Defensively, he functioned as a positional rim protector rather than an explosive shot blocker, using size and verticality to contest while anchoring team schemes. Offensively, his role centered on post-ups, pick-and-pop midrange shooting, and secondary scoring alongside perimeter creators. His physical traits — 7-foot-4 height, long frame, and upright mobility — gave him natural interior presence but limited lateral quickness, shaping a deliberate, methodical style. The overall play style emphasized footwork, soft touch, and structured half-court execution, making him a steady scoring hub whose value came from efficiency, spacing from the elbows, and dependable interior defense.

Sources:
Basketball-Reference — Rik Smits NBA Stats
NBA.com — Rik Smits Bio
Indiana Pacers — Rik Smits Franchise Hall of Fame
Britannica — Rik Smits Dutch basketball player