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Larry Bird calls late Oscar Schmidt ‘without a doubt’ one of best ever
TL;DR
Larry Bird praised Oscar Schmidt as one of the greatest basketball players after Schmidt's death at age 68 from brain cancer. Bird presented Schmidt at his Hall of Fame induction in 2013 and expressed his admiration for him.
Key points
- Larry Bird admired Oscar Schmidt as a basketball player.
- Oscar Schmidt died at age 68 after a 15-year battle with brain cancer.
- Schmidt was a decorated player in international basketball history.
Mentioned in this story
Larry BirdOscar SchmidtNaismith Basketball Hall of Fame
INDIANAPOLIS -- Larry Bird said in 2013 that he'd always hoped Brazilian basketball superstar Oscar Schmidt would come to the NBA just so he could compete against him.
The two were contemporaries with similar styles and Bird wanted to see what that would be like up close. It never happened, as Schmidt was drafted in 1984 by the Nets and attended training camp but decided to return to playing professionally in Italy. So instead, Bird became one of Schmidt's biggest American supporters, even taking the honor of presenting Schmidt at his enshrinement in the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in 2013.
Schmidt died Friday at the age of 68 after what his family said was a 15-year battle with brain cancer. Bird -- the French Lick native, former Indiana State star, Boston Celtics legend and former Pacers head coach and president of basketball operations -- released a statement Friday night.
"I always admired Oscar and considered him a friend, he was, without a doubt, one of the greatest players to ever play the game," Bird said in the statement. "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."
Schmidt is one of the most decorated players in international basketball history. He played in five Olympics with the Brazilian national team and holds the all-time record for scoring in both the Olympics (1,093 points) and the FIBA World Cup (906 points). No other player has scored 800 points in the Olympics and just three have scored more than 600 points. He was considered the unofficial leading scorer in professional basketball history -- combining professional and national team points -- with 49,737 points before he was passed by LeBron James in 2024.
One of Schmidt's greatest career highlights came at Market Square Arena in Indianapolis in 1987 when he led Brazil to a gold medal in the Pan-American Games. Schmidt scored 46 points in the finals of the tournament to lead Brazil to a 120-115 win over a U.S. team that included then-college superstars David Robinson and Danny Manning as well as then-Indiana University stars Keith Smart and Dean Garrett.
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Oscar Schmidt ‘without a doubt’ one of best ever says Larry Bird. Schmidt dead at 68
Q&A
What did Larry Bird say about Oscar Schmidt after his death?
Larry Bird called Oscar Schmidt 'without a doubt' one of the greatest players to ever play the game and expressed his admiration and condolences to Schmidt's family.
What records did Oscar Schmidt hold in international basketball?
Oscar Schmidt held the all-time scoring records for the Olympics with 1,093 points and the FIBA World Cup with 906 points, and was considered the unofficial leading scorer in professional basketball history.
How did Oscar Schmidt's career compare to LeBron James?
Oscar Schmidt was the unofficial leading scorer in professional basketball history with 49,737 points until LeBron James surpassed him in 2024.
