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When Rik Smits watches Roy Hibbert play, it's not exactly like looking into a mirror of the past. But the similarities are striking.
Like Smits, Hibbert was a highly-touted four-year collegian thrust immediately into a prominent role. Like Smits, Hibbert has showed flashes of immense potential but has struggled for consistency. Like Smits, Hibbert has struggled to overcome a problem with foul trouble.
Like Smits, Hibbert bears the weight of the franchise on his shoulders but manages to carry the burden with head up, chin high and a smile on his face.
Smits averaged 14.8 points, 6.1 rebounds and 1.28 blocks in 12 seasons with the Pacers and played a pivotal role in the team's rise to prominence in the 1990s. He still lives in suburban Indianapolis and has become a Hibbert fan, purchasing a No. 55 jersey to wear to Conseco Fieldhouse for games.
"Most of the games I've gone to he's done pretty well," said Smits. "It's inconsistent, I guess, but he definitely has great upside. He works hard, he seems to be a real good guy, he's got a decent touch and a nice jumper and has some good moves.
"There are probably a couple of things he needs to add to his arsenal, an inside pivot or something like that, but he's got all the right tools."
Hibbert, who still has one of Smits' trading cards from the 1990s, met the former Pacers standout at Peyton Manning's charity bowling tournament last year and the two struck up a fast friendship.
"I know he was a very talented – very talented – center here," Hibbert said. "I asked him if he could work out with me sometime, show me some stuff but he just had surgery on his back. Any chance I get to learn from a talented center, I would love to be able to soak up all his knowledge. I know he's done great things and I'd like to learn from him."
Smits had major back surgery in November that involved plates, screws and bone grafts and cannot participate in any full-contact physical workouts for six months. Once he's cleared, he said he'd welcome the chance to work with Hibbert.
"I'd want to bang with him but I'm not supposed to have any impact until May," Smits said. "I guess (they could work out) maybe in the summertime or offseason. They've got assistant coaches and I don't want to interfere during the season. But if it's something Roy wants to do in the offseason, great."
In the meantime, Hibbert will learn by doing, as Smits did. When drafted No. 2 overall in 1988, Smits was expected to learn gradually but a freak knee injury brought a premature end to the career of starter Steve Stipanovich and Smits had to start right away. The team struggled in his first five seasons before reaching the Eastern Conference Finals in 1994, the first of three consecutive trips and six in seven years.
"There was no better way to learn. He's going to get better from playing," Smits said. "I'm sure he's got coaches helping him on the side. I always did, with Bob Hill working with the big guys as much as we wanted. I'm sure he's got the same thing with their assistants.
"Being thrown right in there is definitely the fastest way to learn. Of course, there's going to be a lot of pressure and different people handle it different ways."
As Smits persevered through the tough times two decades ago, Hibbert is doing the same. The team is struggling, his role is evolving but his attitude and approach are unflagging.
"I knew I was doing my best and I was working hard," Smits said. "I guess we got through it all right. You have to have patience. If you know you're doing your best, that's what matters."
"I know what I can do," said Hibbert. "I just have to go into every game exuding confidence and making sure I can finish the plays I know I can and do a lot of extra stuff out there."
They are big footsteps, but if Hibbert can follow Smits' path, he will prove to be well worth the wait.
