SAO PAULO — Oscar Schmidt, the Basketball Hall of Famer whom his (*68*) compatriots know because the “Holy Hand,” died on Friday. He was 68.
Schmidt’s household stated in an announcement that Schmidt fought a mind 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.”
Earlier, Hospital e Maternidade Municipal Santa Ana within the metropolis of Santana de Parnaiba, exterior metropolis Sao Paulo, stated Schmidt’s household requested privateness with out elaborating.
Schmidt by no means performed within the NBA however he is beloved in (*68*) for committing to the nationwide crew, enjoying in a record-tying 5 consecutive Olympic Games and setting scoring data that stay. He additionally starred in an historic win in opposition to the United States within the last of the 1987 Pan-American Games.
He started his skilled profession in 1974 and most of it was at house and Italy, the place he grew to become a childhood idol of future nice Kobe Bryant. In 1984 the NBA’s New Jersey Nets drafted him within the sixth spherical and he educated with them however declined a contract. Also at the time NBA gamers weren’t allowed to play for nationwide groups.
Standing 2.03 meters (6-foot-8), he was a eager three-point shooter within the Nineteen Eighties when many coaches suggested in opposition to it. That earned him the nickname “Mão Santa” (Holy Hand).
Schmidt debuted for (*68*) at 19 in 1977 and performed in each Olympics from 1980-96. He’s the all-time main scorer in Olympic historical past with greater than 1,000 factors. He was the highest scorer at the Olympics in 1988 (42.3 factors per sport), 1992, and 1996. He nonetheless has seven of the ten highest scoring video games in Olympic historical past.
He nonetheless holds the single-game data for factors scored within the Olympics (55 vs. Spain in 1988) and world championships (52 vs. Australia in 1990).
The 1987 Pan Am Games victory in Indianapolis marked the primary time a U.S. crew misplaced a serious worldwide event on house soil. (*68*) gained 120-115 and Schmidt led with 46 factors.
Schmidt retired in 2003 at 45. He handed Kareem Abdul-Jabbar to be the all-time highest scorer and his tally of 49,737 factors for membership and nation was lastly eclipsed by LeBron James in 2024.
He was inducted into the FIBA Hall of Fame in 2010, the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2013, and the Italian Basketball Hall of Fame in 2017.
After retirement, Schmidt grew to become a motivational speaker. He typically talked about his battle with the mind tumor identified in 2011, his love for (*68*) and basketball.
