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Rik Smits played for 13 seasons, never being injured significantly. He did play only 49 games in 1999…but there was a lockout that season, and the Pacers only played 50.
Roy Hibbert had no major injury issues. What cut his career short was that the evolving game suddeny had no use for a player called (no kidding) "The Big Stiff", no matter how good he was at blocking shots, rebounding, and scoring from right under the basket.
It's true that Jeff Ruland had to temporarily retire during the 1986 season. It's also true that 1986 was 37 years ago. (I'm a Mets fan. Trust me, I KNOW how long ago 1986 was.)
Also, I would argue that centers, as a physical type, are perhaps not the best barometer for the possible need to give extra rest to wing players and point guards. But JMO.
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