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Michael SmrekProfessional Canadian basketball player
Date of Birth: 31.08.1962
Country:  Canada |
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Michael Smrek
Michael Smrek is a retired Canadian professional basketball player who played for six NBA teams and three European teams over a 12-year career. Despite never staying with any team for more than two years, he won two NBA championships.
Early Life
Smrek grew up in Port Robinson, Ontario, a farming community near Welland, where he attended high school. He played basketball during college, where he averaged 9.1 points, 5.2 rebounds, 1.6 blocks, and 0.8 assists per game in 23 minutes as a senior. He was one of the college's top players and planned to pursue a professional career.
NBA Career
Smrek entered the NBA as a backup center. Over seven seasons, he played 194 games, averaging 9.7 minutes, 2.9 points, 2.2 rebounds, and 0.8 blocks per game. He was drafted by the Portland Trail Blazers in 1985 but was traded to the Chicago Bulls for Ben Coleman and Ken Johnson. He was then traded to the Los Angeles Lakers, where he won NBA championships in 1987 and 1988. After a year with the San Antonio Spurs, he played for the Golden State Warriors and the Italian team Fulgor Libertas Forlì. He had brief stints with the Los Angeles Clippers and Utah Jazz before returning to the Golden State Warriors on a 10-day contract.
European Career
Smrek played in Greece for Dafni during the 1992-1993 season and in Croatia for KK Split in 1996-1997. He retired from basketball in 1997.
Post-Basketball Career
Smrek did not return to basketball after retirement and found alternative employment. He currently works as a construction technology teacher at Niagara Falls High School in Ontario and as a carpenter in Welland.
