Oscar Schmidt inducted to Hall of Fame

Brazilian Basketball legend Oscar Schmidt has been inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame at the start of the NBA All-Star weekend. Schmidt is a three-time Olympic scoring champion who played in his native Brazil, Spain, and most famously as one of the stars of Italian Basketball during the 1980’s. The forward enjoyed a lengthy career, managing to hit the court for 28 years in total.

Schmidt was a driving force behind Brazilian side Sirio’s charge towards winning the 1979 world club title, but it is in Italy where the gifted shooter is best remembered. From 1984 to 1992, Oscar Schmidt reigned as the scoring champion in Italy as he claimed the season’s top scorer for each of those years.

The Brazilian was drafted to the New Jersey Nets in 1984, but he opted to head to Italy instead where he forged a reputation as one of the best shooters and scorers in Basketball. Upon returning to his homeland (he would see out his career in Brazil) he led the scoring charts in Brazil for eight consecutive years from 1996 to 2003, the year he retired.

As one of the most consistent players in recent memory, Oscar Schmidt is deserving of his place in the Basketball Hall of Fame. He is one of the all-time best South American basketball players.