Rik Smits

Rik Smits spent all twelve of his NBA seasons in Indiana, arriving as the No. 2 overall pick in 1988 out of tiny Marist College. At 7-foot-4 the Dutchman had the footwork and soft turnaround jumper of a much smaller man, which is what made him a rare offensive hub in the middle rather than just a rim protector. He anchored the frontcourt through the Pacers' 1990s peak, earned his lone All-Star nod in 1998, and was a steadying interior scorer on the team that reached the 2000 NBA Finals. Chronic foot problems quietly shaped his career, limiting his minutes and pushing him toward early retirement right after that Finals run, but at his best he averaged over 18 a night and gave Indiana a low-post answer few contenders could match.