Oscar Schmidt, the Basketball Hall of Famer known to his Brazilian compatriots as the ‘Holy Hand,’ died on Friday at the age of 68.
His family said in a statement that he fought 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.’
Schmidt is survived by wife Maria Cristina Victorino, whom he married in 1981, and two children. One of them, Filipe, spoke about his father´s death on social media.
‘Now you rest in peace, dad. You are in the hall of fame of life,’ he said.
Schmidt is beloved in Brazil for committing to the national team for 19 years and becoming one of the most prolific scorers in basketball history.
He also starred in a historic victory over the United States in the final of the 1987 Pan American Games.
Brazilian icon Oscar Schmidt, the Basketball Hall of Famer, died on Friday at the age of 68
Schmidt starred in a historic victory over the USA in the final of the 1987 Pan American Games
Schmidt, who never played in the NBA, became a childhood idol of future great Kobe Bryant
‘The biggest player of Brazilian basketball history bids farewell as an absolute symbol of sport, the holder of a trajectory that redefined the boundaries of what was possible in a court,’ the Brazil Basketball Confederation said in a statement. ‘His death closes an era. But his greatness remains.’
Schmidt, who never played in the NBA, began his professional career in 1974 and most of it was at home and Italy, where he became a childhood idol of future great Kobe Bryant.
In 1984 the NBA’s New Jersey Nets drafted him in the sixth round and he trained with them but declined a contract. At the time NBA players were not allowed to play for national teams. Schmidt said he had no regrets at his Hall of Fame induction.
‘I was the choice (No.) 144,’ he said. His idol Larry Bird laughed next to him. ‘They came to offer me a no-cut contract to play for the New Jersey Nets. I said thank you very much but if I play one game here I will never again play for my national team.
‘Three years later we beat the Americans here in the U.S. Sorry, that was the greatest thing I did in basketball.’
Bird released a statement Friday, saying: ‘I always admired Oscar and considered him a friend. He was, without a doubt, one of the greatest players to ever play the game.
‘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.’
Golden State coach Steve Kerr said in comments before the Warriors played the Phoenix Suns on Friday that Schmidt ‘was one of the greatest shooters I’ve ever seen in my life.’
Schmidt jokes with US basketball legend Magic Johnson during an event in Brazil in 1992
Schmidt was induct into the Basketball Hall of Fame by NBA icon Larry Bird in 2013
‘Just no conscience, just a little bit, you know, of a Steph Curry mentality,’ Kerr added. ‘Never, ever thought twice about letting it fly, just a beautiful player with an incredible mentality.’
Kerr played against Schmidt at the 1986 world championships and tore his ACL during the game.
‘He literally picked me up, carried me off the floor,’ Kerr said. ‘It was an incredible gesture on his part. And over the next few years, he really exploded.’
‘I was so sad to hear about the news today. Only 68 and the guy was absolutely beloved in Brazil. So to all our Brazilian fans, I just want to say my condolences, and from the Warriors, we’re feeling for you.’
Standing 6-foot-8, he was a keen 3-point shooter in the 1980s when many coaches advised against it. That earned him the nickname ‘Mão Santa’ (Holy Hand).
He debuted for Brazil at 19 in 1977 and made 326 appearances, averaging 23.6 points per game.
He played in a record-tying five Olympics and four World Cups. He’s the all-time leading scorer in both tournaments. He still has seven of the 10 highest scoring games in Olympic history and he holds the single-game records for points scored in the Olympics (55 vs. Spain in 1988) and World Cup (52 vs. Australia in 1990).
The 1987 Pan Am Games victory in Indianapolis marked the first time a U.S. team lost a major international tournament on home soil. Brazil won 120-115 and Schmidt led with 46 points.
Schmidt retired in 2003 at 45. He passed Kareem Abdul-Jabbar to be the unofficial career highest scorer and his known tally of 49,737 points for club and country was eclipsed by LeBron James in 2024.
Schmidt 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 became one of his country’s most popular motivational speakers. He often talked about his battle with the brain tumor diagnosed in 2011, his love for Brazil and basketball.
