June 12, 2008

Old School Honkeys of the NBA: Rik Smits



Back in middle school, we used to play pick-up basketball with this awkwardly tall, slightly oafish looking white guy from Indiana.  Not surprisingly, his nickname was Rik Smits.

The inspiration for my friend's nom de guerre played his entire career with the Indiana Pacers, averaging 14.8 points as the Pacers' second all-time leading scorer.

Although the "Dunking Dutchman" towered 7'4" tall, he only managed to average 6.1 rebounds per game, a career mark matched by other notable centers like Jason Kidd, Clyde Drexler and Luol Deng.

Since his retirement, Smits has been perfecting his awkward whiteness by pursuing a career in competitive motocross and attending Marist College alumni reunions.  

Bonus circle of whiteness:  during the 1989/90 and 1992/93 seasons, Smit suited up alongside Detlef Schrempf.  

[Note:  this post is part of an on-going series highlighting the achievements of painfully-white white basketball players]


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