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Indiana Pacers: Rik Smits has done enough to have jersey retired

The Indiana Pacers have quite the high bar for retiring jersey numbers. They should lower it, at least temporarily, to recognize Rik Smits.

As an NBA player, one of the greatest post-career recognitions you can receive short of being inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame is having your number retired by the team(s) you played for throughout your career.

Rik Smits, retired for 20 years now, is still waiting on the Pacers, his only team, to retire his number.

There’s room for debate on Smits and whether or not they should retire the 45 that he wore for the majority of his career.