Oscar Schmidt: The man leading LeBron James in points

The greatest scorer
Rest of the worlds MJ
'Holy Hand'
50,000 points
Playing in Europe
Scoring titles
Kobe's inspiriation
'He was Larry Bird'
Brazil
Meetings with USA
30 on the 'Dream Team'
Hall of Fame
Drafted into the NBA
Why didn't he play in the NBA?
More money in Italy
One of the best
The greatest scorer

You may think LeBron James is the greatest scorer in basketball history but look no further than Oscar Schmidt, the real greatest scorer in basketball history.

Rest of the worlds MJ

When you think basketball GOATs, you think of Michael Jordan, LeBron James, and Kareem Abdul Jabbar, but for kids outside the USA, Schmidt is idolized.

'Holy Hand'

Oscar Schmidt, the man dubbed the 'Holy Hand,' played professional basketball for 29 years, making his name for the Brazilian National team but never playing in the NBA.

50,000 points

His extensive career, which started in 1974 and ended in 2003, helped Schmidt reach a points total of 49,737 points. LeBron James is 2,004 points away from that total.

Playing in Europe

As well as the Brazilian National team, Schmidt plied his trade in Brazil's domestic league and Europe, playing in Italy and Spain.

Scoring titles

In his home country of Brazil, Schmidt has won eight scoring titles. Whilst playing in Italy, the 'Holy Hand' added seven more scoring titles, inspiring a future NBA legend.

Kobe's inspiriation

Los Angeles Lakers legend Kobe Bryant was a young kid when his father, Joe Bryant, was competing against Oscar Schmidt in Italy, and Schmidt left a lasting impression on the 'Black Mamba.'

'He was Larry Bird'

According to basketballnetwork.net, a young Kobe Bryant said: "He was Larry Bird before I ever got to see what Bird was."

Brazil

Schmidt represented Brazil at five Olympic Games and is the all-time Olympic scorer with 1,038 points. He is also the FIBA World Cup points record holder with 906.

Meetings with USA

Over the years, Schmidt and his Brazilian team had some legendary encounters with some of the USA's finest players.

30 on the 'Dream Team'

In the final of the 1987 Pan American Games, Schmidt scored 46 points over David Robinson and co as Brazil took the gold home. Against the 1992 'Dream Team,' the 'Holy Hand' scored 31 points over Michael Jordan.

Hall of Fame

His outstanding career led him to basketball heaven, being inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in 2013.

Drafted into the NBA

Schmidt was drafted in the sixth round of the 1984 NBA Draft by the New Jersey Nets. He had been a professional for ten years and decided to do two Nets training camps in 1984 and 1985.

Why didn't he play in the NBA?

The Brazilian was offered a guaranteed contract by the New Jersey Nets, but Schmidt declined because NBA players were banned from representing their national teams at the time.

More money in Italy

The rule was abolished in 1989, but Schmidt was offered more money in Italy, meaning he could make a better living and still represent his beloved national team.

One of the best

It is with no doubt that Oscar 'Holy Hand' Schmidt is the most legendary player to never play in the NBA!

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