The Shaq Treatment That Stole the 2000 NBA Finals: Rik Smits Speaks Out

Rik Smits has spoken out about the 2000 NBA Finals, a series that still has him seething with frustration. As the dominant center for the Indiana Pacers, Smits went toe-to-toe with the unstoppable force that was Shaquille O'Neal. But according to Smits, the playing field was far from level.

Smits described a play where Shaq got the benefit of the doubt from the officials, leaving him stunned and helpless. Despite his best efforts to contain the big man, Smits was consistently at the mercy of the referees. "He did get the All-Star treatment," Smits said in a recent interview, his voice still dripping with annoyance all these years later.

When asked to elaborate, Smits recounted the play in vivid detail. "I was fronting him, trying to force him to go baseline. I felt like I had him under control, but the referee called a foul on me. It was a weak call, and I knew it at the time. But what really got my blood boiling was when Shaq started yapping at the official, complaining about the call. And you know what? The ref listened to him! He actually changed his call, giving Shaq the benefit of the doubt."

Smits shook his head, remembering the frustration he felt in that moment. "I just couldn't believe it. I was the one being physical, trying to contain the big man. But Shaq was the one who got the call. It was like the officials were intimidated by him, or something."

This play was just one of many instances where Smits felt like the officials were biased towards Shaq. Throughout the series, he noticed that Shaq was getting away with more physical play, while he was being called for every little infraction. "It was like they had a different set of rules for him," Smits said, his voice rising in indignation. "I wasn't given the same latitude, that's for sure."

The 2000 NBA Finals were a hard-fought series, with the Lakers ultimately emerging victorious in six games. But for Smits and the Pacers, the loss was especially bitter, given the perceived inequities in officiating. Even all these years later, Smits still hasn't gotten over the way he felt treated by the officials. As for Shaq, he just shrugged off the criticism, saying that he was just playing to his strengths. "I was a physical player," he said in a recent interview. "I was going to do whatever it took to win."

Smits can't help but feel a twinge of resentment whenever he thinks about the 2000 NBA Finals. He knows that he and his team gave it their all, only to be undone by factors outside of their control. But despite the disappointment, Smits remains proud of the way his team fought, even in the face of adversity. "We may not have gotten the calls," he said, "but we never gave up. That's what I'll always remember about that series."