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Oscar Schmidt authored a 46-point performance in the final of the 1987 Pan American Games, leading Brazil to a historic victory over the United States in a game that partly precipitated the formation of the “Dream Team.”
Schmidt, a 6-foot-9 forward with a 3-point stroke that was ahead of its time, earned the nickname of the “Holy Hand,” or “Mão Santa” in Portuguese. The late Kobe Bryant idolized him growing up in Italy, where Schmidt played against Bryant’s father.
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A Basketball Hall of Famer with international influence despite never playing in the NBA, Schmidt’s legacy is undeniable. It’s being rightfully echoed this weekend after Schmidt died Friday at the age of 68.
Schmidt’s family said in a statement that he battled a brain tumor for 15 years “with courage, dignity and resilience … while remaining a role model of determination, generosity and love of life. Oscar leaves a legacy that transcends sport and inspires generations of athletes and admirers in Brazil and worldwide.”
That message was relayed by members of the basketball community on Friday.
“I always admired Oscar and considered him a friend, he was, without a doubt, one of the greatest players to ever play the game,” said fellow Hall of Famer Larry Bird in a statement circulated by the NBA.
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“It was an honor of a lifetime when Oscar asked me to present him at his well deserved induction into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. My sincere condolences to Oscar’s family.”
Schmidt was inducted into the Hall in 2013. He played in a record-tying five straight Olympics, appearing in every Summer Games from 1980-96. He’s responsible for seven of the 10 highest-scoring outings in Olympic men’s basketball history. Fittingly, he’s the Games’ all-time leading scorer.
By the time he retired in 2003, he was 45 years old and was unofficially considered the highest scorer in basketball history with 49,737 points across his club and national team appearances. LeBron James surpassed him in that category in 2024.
The then-New Jersey Nets selected Schmidt in the sixth round of a 1984 NBA Draft…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/nba/article/larry-bird-steve-kerr-others-pay-tribute-to-hall-of-famer-oscar-schmidt-after-brazilian-icon-dies-at-68-190525323.html
Author : Andy Backstrom
Publish date : 2026-04-18 19:05:00
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