老朋友 Rik Smits 選了一個他覺得最適合的時機退休，就在那一年（2000） 溜馬頂著堅強的陣容挑戰紫金湖人失利之後，Smits 毅然決然的選擇退休， 也許他的雄心壯志是還想跟著溜馬一起奮鬥，但顯然的他的腳傷不允許他這 樣做了，所以，退休，其實也不是不好，起碼他參與了溜馬隊史成軍以來最 輝煌的時刻（至 2000 年為止）。 退休後的 Smits有好一陣子仍然為足疾所苦，他根本不能碰球；一直到去年 才好轉一些，不過膝蓋和背的傷痛仍然讓他很苦惱。 「你知道的，我想時間差不多了。」職業生涯早期健康無虞的 Smits是聯盟 中進攻威力數一數二的中鋒，擁有一手漂亮精準的中距離手感；不過晚期隨 著足部的傷痛漸漸加劇，他的缺賽次數也越來越多，雖然最後一年 Smits還 是足足打了 79 場比賽，但平均上場時間已經降到只有 23.4 分鐘。 「我總是希望我能在最接近職業生涯顛峰的時候急流勇退。」這是 Smits的 心願。「他做到了。」也許最後一年他的成績不能算是十分出色，但在職業 生涯的末期，能夠獲得入選明星賽的肯定，所屬球隊也拿下隊史最佳戰績， 同時一嚐 NBA Finals 滋味，團隊的榮譽更勝個人成績。Smits 心願已了。 現在 Smits和妻子以及兩個小孩住在老家荷蘭北部，偶爾冬天還在家鄉附近 的業餘聯盟投投籃娛樂一下，生活十分安定。^^ 老朋友，好久不見，你好嗎？:) http://www.indystar.com/articles/4/167611-9364-179.html 僅摘錄有關於 Rik Smits 的部分。 Pacers center Rik Smits retired after the NBA Finals in 2000 but still plays basketball. The 7-4 "Dunking Dutchman" from Holland resides on the Northside with his wife and two children. He spends the winter shooting hoops in recreational leagues. Smits says he didn't stop playing after a dozen seasons because of chronic foot pain, as was often speculated. He just sensed he was slowing down. "You know when it's time," said Smits, 37, who averaged 14.8 points in 971 games. "Even the last year, the feet were fine, but my knees were starting to ache and my back started to hurt. "I always said I wanted to retire at or near the top. I did that." The average experience of players on NBA rosters at the beginning of last season was 4.67 seasons, according to a league official. --

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