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Basketball Hall of Famer Oscar Schmidt, known in Brazil as “Mão Santa” (Holy Hand), died Friday at the age of 68.
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His family said Schmidt had been undergoing treatment for a brain tumor for more than 15 years. In a statement, they said he faced the illness “with courage, dignity and resilience … while remaining a role model of determination, generosity and love of life.”
His legacy, the family added, transcends sport and continues to inspire generations of athletes and fans in Brazil and around the world, according to The Associated Press.
Schmidt never played in the NBA, yet became one of the most prolific scorers in international basketball history. He competed in five Olympic Games, appeared in four World Cups and was a central figure on the Brazilian national team that defeated the United States at the 1987 Pan-American Games — the first time a U.S. team had lost a home tournament to international competition. Brazil won 120–115, with Schmidt pouring in 46 points.
His scoring records remain untouched. He put up 55 points against Spain at the 1988 Olympics and 52 against Australia in 1990 — both Olympic single-game records — and retired as the all-time leading scorer in Olympic history with 1,000 career points. The 6-foot-8 guard represented Brazil in every Olympic tournament from 1980 through 1996, earning the nickname “Mão Santa” for his exceptional three-point shooting.
Tributes poured in from across the basketball world. Larry Bird called Schmidt “one of the greatest players to ever play the game” and reflected on the honor of presenting him at his Hall of Fame induction. Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr remembered Schmidt as “one of the greatest shooters I’ve ever seen in my life.”
Schmidt was inducted into the FIBA Hall of Fame in 2010, the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in 2013 and the Italian Basketball Hall of Fame in 2017. He retired from playing in 2003 at age 45 and later built a second career as a motivational speaker.
He is survived by his wife, Maria Cristina Victorino, and their two children.
