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The legendary Brazilian basketball player, famously known as “Holy Hand,” battled a brain tumor for 15 years.
His family confirmed that Schmidt departed “bravely and with dignity, showing everyone how to love life.”
Although he never played in the NBA, Schmidt will be remembered as one of Brazil's greatest basketball players and a man who participated in a record five consecutive Olympic Games. Schmidt was also a pivotal player in the Brazilian team's historic victory over the USA at the 1987 Pan American Games.
He began his professional career in 1974, spending most of it in Brazil and Italy. It was in Italy that Kobe Bryant, whose father played there after his NBA career, became acquainted with Schmidt. Thus, Schmidt became an inspiration and idol for young Kobe, who would later become one of the greatest basketball players the world has ever seen.
In 1984, the New Jersey Nets selected him in the sixth round of the NBA draft, but Schmidt later declined the contract because, at that time, players in the world's strongest league were not permitted to play for their national teams.
Standing at 203 cm, he was an exceptionally accurate three-point shooter. This precision earned him the nickname „Mão Santa“ („Holy Hand“).
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