Brazilian Basketball Legend Oscar Schmidt Passes Away; Kobe's Childhood Idol Gave Up NBA for National Team
Brazilian basketball legend Oscar Schmidt has died at 68 after a 15-year battle with a brain tumor. Known as the 'Holy Hand,' he holds Olympic scoring records and famously declined an NBA career to play for his country.
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- 📰 Published: April 18, 2026 at 16:27
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Central News Agency
(Central News Agency, Sao Paulo, 17th, Comprehensive Foreign Report) Brazilian basketball legend Oscar Schmidt passed away today at the age of 68. The all-time leading scorer in Olympic men's basketball history was the childhood idol of the late star Kobe Bryant and famously gave up playing in the NBA to represent his national team.
According to comprehensive reports by AFP and AP, his family stated that Schmidt battled a brain tumor for 15 years, "showing courage, dignity, and resilience, remaining a model of perseverance, generosity, and love for life." They added that he leaves a profound legacy transcending sports, inspiring generations of athletes and fans in Brazil and around the world.
Standing at 203 cm, Schmidt was known for his precise three-point shooting in the 1980s, a time when many coaches discouraged long shots, earning him the moniker "Holy Hand." Schmidt once said, "I don't have a holy hand, only a trained hand."
Born in Natal, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil, Schmidt made his debut for the Brazilian national team at age 19 in 1977. He played a total of 326 games, averaging 23.6 points per game.
He played in 5 Olympics and 4 World Cups, remaining the all-time leading scorer in both tournaments. He still holds 7 of the top 10 highest-scoring games in Olympic history and holds the single-game scoring records for both the Olympics and the World Cup, scoring 55 points against Spain in the 1988 Olympics and 52 points against Australia in the 1990 World Cup, respectively.
The Brazilian Olympic Committee stated that Schmidt "represents more than just results and medals; he embodies the core values of the Olympic spirit: dedication, resilience, and respect for opponents."
In 1984, the NBA's New Jersey Nets (now Brooklyn Nets) selected him in the 6th round of the draft. He trained with the team but ultimately declined the contract because NBA players were not allowed to compete in national team games at the time. When inducted into the Hall of Fame, Schmidt stated he had no regrets.
Schmidt said, "They offered me a guaranteed contract to play for the New Jersey Nets. I was grateful, but if I played a single game there, I could never play for my country's national team again."
"Three years later, we beat the US team on their home court. Excuse me, but that was the best thing I ever did in my basketball career."
At the 1987 Pan Am Games in Indianapolis, USA, the US team lost to Brazil 115-120. This was the first time the US team lost a major international tournament on home soil. Schmidt scored 46 points in that game.
Schmidt spent his club career primarily in South America and Europe, retiring in 2003 at the age of 45. He had surpassed Kareem Abdul-Jabbar as the highest-scoring player in unofficial career history, known to have scored a combined 49,737 points for clubs and the national team, until he was surpassed 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 retiring, Schmidt became one of Brazil's most popular motivational speakers, often talking about his battle with illness after being diagnosed with a brain tumor in 2011, as well as his love for Brazil and basketball.
Schmidt passed away earlier today after being rushed to the hospital. His son, Felipe, posted on social media: "Dad, may you rest in peace now. You have entered the Hall of Fame of life."
Schmidt's idol Larry Bird, Golden State Warriors coach Steve Kerr, and two Brazilian compatriots, Portland Trail Blazers coach Tiago Splitter and Anderson Varejao, posted tributes to mourn him. (Compiled by: Lu Ying-tzu) 1150418
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(Central News Agency, Sao Paulo, 17th, Comprehensive Foreign Report) Brazilian basketball legend Oscar Schmidt passed away today at the age of 68. The all-time leading scorer in Olympic men's basketball history was the childhood idol of the late star Kobe Bryant and famously gave up playing in the NBA to represent his national team.
According to comprehensive reports by AFP and AP, his family stated that Schmidt battled a brain tumor for 15 years, "showing courage, dignity, and resilience, remaining a model of perseverance, generosity, and love for life." They added that he leaves a profound legacy transcending sports, inspiring generations of athletes and fans in Brazil and around the world.
Standing at 203 cm, Schmidt was known for his precise three-point shooting in the 1980s, a time when many coaches discouraged long shots, earning him the moniker "Holy Hand." Schmidt once said, "I don't have a holy hand, only a trained hand."
Born in Natal, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil, Schmidt made his debut for the Brazilian national team at age 19 in 1977. He played a total of 326 games, averaging 23.6 points per game.
He played in 5 Olympics and 4 World Cups, remaining the all-time leading scorer in both tournaments. He still holds 7 of the top 10 highest-scoring games in Olympic history and holds the single-game scoring records for both the Olympics and the World Cup, scoring 55 points against Spain in the 1988 Olympics and 52 points against Australia in the 1990 World Cup, respectively.
The Brazilian Olympic Committee stated that Schmidt "represents more than just results and medals; he embodies the core values of the Olympic spirit: dedication, resilience, and respect for opponents."
In 1984, the NBA's New Jersey Nets (now Brooklyn Nets) selected him in the 6th round of the draft. He trained with the team but ultimately declined the contract because NBA players were not allowed to compete in national team games at the time. When inducted into the Hall of Fame, Schmidt stated he had no regrets.
Schmidt said, "They offered me a guaranteed contract to play for the New Jersey Nets. I was grateful, but if I played a single game there, I could never play for my country's national team again."
"Three years later, we beat the US team on their home court. Excuse me, but that was the best thing I ever did in my basketball career."
At the 1987 Pan Am Games in Indianapolis, USA, the US team lost to Brazil 115-120. This was the first time the US team lost a major international tournament on home soil. Schmidt scored 46 points in that game.
Schmidt spent his club career primarily in South America and Europe, retiring in 2003 at the age of 45. He had surpassed Kareem Abdul-Jabbar as the highest-scoring player in unofficial career history, known to have scored a combined 49,737 points for clubs and the national team, until he was surpassed 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 retiring, Schmidt became one of Brazil's most popular motivational speakers, often talking about his battle with illness after being diagnosed with a brain tumor in 2011, as well as his love for Brazil and basketball.
Schmidt passed away earlier today after being rushed to the hospital. His son, Felipe, posted on social media: "Dad, may you rest in peace now. You have entered the Hall of Fame of life."
Schmidt's idol Larry Bird, Golden State Warriors coach Steve Kerr, and two Brazilian compatriots, Portland Trail Blazers coach Tiago Splitter and Anderson Varejao, posted tributes to mourn him. (Compiled by: Lu Ying-tzu) 1150418
Choose to stand with the facts; every sponsorship from you is the power to protect press freedom.
Download the CNA 'First Hand News' APP to instantly grasp the latest news.
The text, images, and audio/video on this website may not be reproduced, publicly broadcast, or publicly transmitted and utilized without authorization.