Oscar Schmidt was one of the greatest international basketball players of his time. Played in 5 Olympics for Team Brazil, averaging 28.8 per game, including 42 ppg in then Seoul games.
Poured in 46 points in the gold medal game of the '87 Pan Am Games shocking Team USA in an upset that accelerated getting NBA players into international competitions. That Team USA team was loaded with David Robinson leading the roster.
The epitome of a walking bucket, he never played in the NBA as his prime years were spent abroad where he made more money than he would've in the NBA at the time and it allowed him to maintain eligibility to play for his country in international events.
If he would have been 10-15 years younger, he would have been an NBA legend.
Quote from: The Sultan on April 19, 2026, 08:47:08 AMIf he would have been 10-15 years younger, he would have been an NBA legend.
Depending on the accuracy of the data, no one ever scored more professionally until LeBron. A lot of those international guys of the 80's really never got a chance in the NBA at their best
I saw Oscar play a few times. And let's just say that Brazilian basketball time was a trancendent star surrounded by plumbers and firemen.
Quote from: The Sultan on April 19, 2026, 09:01:54 AMI saw Oscar play a few times. And let's just say that Brazilian basketball time was a trancendent star surrounded by plumbers and firemen.
Basically college basketball in the 70's
Quote from: The Sultan on April 19, 2026, 08:47:08 AMIf he would have been 10-15 years younger, he would have been an NBA legend.
Schmidt and Sabonis are the 2 biggest "What Ifs" in terms of just ahead of their time for NBA stardom. Sabonis obviously had the injury situation, but still. Schmidt was averaging 30-35 a game every year in Italy and Spain, playing 10 min quarters. Not to mention Kobe's favorite player as a kid.