Oscar Schmidt, the Brazilian forward honored in the FIBA Basketball Hall of Fame in 2010 and the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2013, died on Friday at age 68, his family announced.
In a statement, relatives said Schmidt fought a brain tumor for 15 years “with courage, dignity and resilience,” remaining “a role model of determination, generosity and love of life.”
Drafted by the New Jersey Nets in the sixth round of the 1984 NBA Draft, Schmidt opted to stay abroad so he could continue representing Brazil at international competitions, which at the time barred NBA players. Nicknamed “Mão Santa” (“Holy Hand”), he capped a 26-year career in 2003 at age 45 as one of basketball’s most prolific scorers.
Schmidt’s signature performance came at the 1987 Pan American Games in Indianapolis, where he scored 46 points to lift Brazil over the United States in the gold-medal game. He remains the all-time leading scorer in both Olympic and FIBA World Cup play and still holds the single-game scoring records for each tournament.
The Brazilian Basketball Confederation hailed him as “an absolute symbol of sport” whose career “redefined the boundaries of what was possible on a court,” adding, “his death closes an era, but his greatness remains.”
No further details on services were released.
Source: Hoops Rumors
