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Brazil Mourns 'Holy Hand' Oscar Schmidt
18 Apr
Summary
- Basketball icon Oscar Schmidt, known as 'Holy Hand,' passed away at 68.
- He played in a record five Olympic Games and set scoring records.
- Schmidt led Brazil to a historic 1987 Pan-American Games victory.
Oscar Schmidt, a Brazilian basketball legend revered as the "Holy Hand," passed away on Friday at the age of 68. His family announced his death, noting his brave 15-year battle with a brain tumor.
Schmidt, who never played in the NBA, was a national hero in Brazil for his dedication to the national team. He competed in a record-tying five consecutive Olympic Games from 1980 to 1996. He remains the all-time leading scorer in Olympic history with over 1,000 points.
His standout moments include leading Brazil to a historic 120-115 victory over the United States in the 1987 Pan-American Games final, where he scored 46 points. Schmidt was also renowned for his exceptional three-point shooting, earning him his famous nickname.
Schmidt concluded his professional career in 2003, accumulating 49,737 points for club and country, a tally that was eventually surpassed by LeBron James. He was inducted into multiple Halls of Fame, including the FIBA and Naismith Memorial Basketball Halls of Fame, and later became a motivational speaker.
