Mike Smrek
Encyclopedia
Michael Frank Smrek is a retired Canadian
professional basketball
player. He played in the NBA.
, a nearby rural farming community. At Canisius College
he averaged 9.1 points, 5.2 rebounds, 1.6 blocks, and 0.8 assists in 23 minutes a contest over four years. He is the college's second leading career shot-blocking with 172 (compatriot Michael Meeks
is first with 183). He also had the two best seasons for field-goal percentage in school history with a .632 FGP in 1983-84 and a .601 FGP in 1984-85.
, appearing in 194 games over seven seasons. He averaged 9.7 minutes, 2.9 points, 2.2 rebounds, and 0.8 blocks a contest during this time. Drafted by the Portland Trail Blazers
with the first pick in the second round of the 1985 NBA Draft
out of Canisius College
, he played as rookie with the Chicago Bulls
, appearing in 38 games and averaged around his career totals.
Smrek went on to play two seasons with the Los Angeles Lakers
where he earned an NBA championship ring, a year with the San Antonio Spurs
, parts of three seasons with the Golden State Warriors
and a brief stint with the Los Angeles Clippers
. He has also played for the Toronto Raptors
in the 1996 preseason (but not in regular season games).
(1989–90), in the Greek League
for Dafni BC
(1992–93) and in Croatia
for KK Split
(1996–97).
and also works part time as a carpenter in Welland, Ontario.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
professional basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
player. He played in the NBA.
College career
The 7'0, 250 lbs Smrek graduated from Eastdale High School in Welland, having grown up in Port Robinson, OntarioPort Robinson, Ontario
Port Robinson is a small community in the southernmost part of Thorold, Ontario, Canada. The community is divided in half by the Welland Canal, as there is no bridge in the immediate vicinity to connect the two halves of the community. In the summer, a passenger ferry runs across the canal...
, a nearby rural farming community. At Canisius College
Canisius College
Canisius College is a private Roman Catholic college in Buffalo, New York, United States. The college was founded in 1870 by members of the Society of Jesus from Germany and is named after St. Peter Canisius. The college is one of 28 institutions in the Association of Jesuit Colleges and...
he averaged 9.1 points, 5.2 rebounds, 1.6 blocks, and 0.8 assists in 23 minutes a contest over four years. He is the college's second leading career shot-blocking with 172 (compatriot Michael Meeks
Michael Meeks (basketball)
Michael Meeks is a professional basketball player from Canada. A veteran of several seasons of play with various clubs in Europe, Meeks currently plays for BG Göttingen in Germany. He is a former member of the Canadian national men's basketball team.- College play :A 6'9, 235 lb...
is first with 183). He also had the two best seasons for field-goal percentage in school history with a .632 FGP in 1983-84 and a .601 FGP in 1984-85.
NBA
Smrek was a back-up centerCenter (basketball)
The center, colloquially known as the five or the post, is one of the standard positions in a regulation basketball game. The center is normally the tallest player on the team, and often has a great deal of strength and body mass as well...
, appearing in 194 games over seven seasons. He averaged 9.7 minutes, 2.9 points, 2.2 rebounds, and 0.8 blocks a contest during this time. Drafted by the Portland Trail Blazers
Portland Trail Blazers
The Portland Trail Blazers, commonly known as the Blazers, are an American professional basketball team based in Portland, Oregon. They play in the Northwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association . The Trail Blazers originally played their home games in the...
with the first pick in the second round of the 1985 NBA Draft
1985 NBA Draft
The 1985 NBA Draft took place on June 18, 1985. It was also the first NBA Draft of the "Lottery" era. A total of 162 players were selected over 7 rounds by the league's 23 teams. The New York Knicks were awarded the first overall pick, by winning the first-ever NBA Draft Lottery, which was held...
out of Canisius College
Canisius College
Canisius College is a private Roman Catholic college in Buffalo, New York, United States. The college was founded in 1870 by members of the Society of Jesus from Germany and is named after St. Peter Canisius. The college is one of 28 institutions in the Association of Jesuit Colleges and...
, he played as rookie with the Chicago Bulls
Chicago Bulls
The Chicago Bulls are an American professional basketball team based in Chicago, Illinois, playing in the Central Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association . The team was founded in 1966. They play their home games at the United Center...
, appearing in 38 games and averaged around his career totals.
Smrek went on to play two seasons with the Los Angeles Lakers
Los Angeles Lakers
The Los Angeles Lakers are an American professional basketball team based in Los Angeles, California. They play in the Pacific Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association...
where he earned an NBA championship ring, a year with the San Antonio Spurs
San Antonio Spurs
The San Antonio Spurs are an American professional basketball team based in San Antonio, Texas. They are part of the Southwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association ....
, parts of three seasons with the Golden State Warriors
Golden State Warriors
The Golden State Warriors are an American professional basketball team based in Oakland, California. They are part of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association...
and a brief stint with the Los Angeles Clippers
Los Angeles Clippers
The Los Angeles Clippers are a professional basketball team based in Los Angeles, California, United States. They play in the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Basketball Association...
. He has also played for the Toronto Raptors
Toronto Raptors
The Toronto Raptors are a professional basketball team based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. They are part of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association . The team was established in 1995, along with the Vancouver Grizzlies, as part of the NBA's re-expansion...
in the 1996 preseason (but not in regular season games).
Europe
He played in Italy for Fulgor Libertas ForlìFulgor Libertas Forlì
Fulgor Libertas Forlì is an Italian professional basketball team that is based in Forlì, Italy. The club is now competing in the second-highest Italian professional basketball division, Legadue.-History:...
(1989–90), in the Greek League
A1 Ethniki
The Greek Basket League , commonly referred to as the Greek Basketball League or Greek Basketball Championship, is the highest professional basketball league in Greece. It is run by HEBA...
for Dafni BC
Dafni BC
AO Dafni Athens BC , commonly known as Dafni BC, is a Greek professional basketball club. The club is located in Dafni, Attica, a suburb of the city of Athens, Greece. The club competes in the Greek League second division the A2 Ethniki...
(1992–93) and in Croatia
Croatia
Croatia , officially the Republic of Croatia , is a unitary democratic parliamentary republic in Europe at the crossroads of the Mitteleuropa, the Balkans, and the Mediterranean. Its capital and largest city is Zagreb. The country is divided into 20 counties and the city of Zagreb. Croatia covers ...
for KK Split
KK Split
KK Split , KK Split CO for sponsorship relations is a basketball club from Split, Croatia. Currently, KK Split competes in the A-1 Liga and Krešimir Ćosić Cup.-History:...
(1996–97).
Current career
Currently, Mike Smrek is employed as a Construction Technology teacher at St. Paul High School in Niagara Falls, OntarioNiagara Falls, Ontario
Niagara Falls is a Canadian city on the Niagara River in the Golden Horseshoe region of Southern Ontario. The municipality was incorporated on June 12, 1903...
and also works part time as a carpenter in Welland, Ontario.