- Oscar Schmidt- Oscar is the GOAT International Basketball player. Most associate Dirk or Hakeem or now Giannis and Luka tody with this distinction, that’s incorrect. Oscar Schmidt, never played a game in the NBA. But his 47 points in the ‘87 Pan-Am games and his 55 point (Olympic record) game for Brazil, eclipsed any expectation an international player had playing against the USA. He broke the ceiling for ballers around the world when he busted ass in 1987.
Len Bias died from a drug overdose. Had 911 been alerted immediately, it’s my personal belief, given his age and how strong his heart was, that AED intervention likely would have worked, if CPR was ineffective.
He was billed as the next player in a Franchise decorated with them. He was supposed to make Michael only had 3 or 4 titles. He was going to help the Greenies beat the Lakers in NBA Finals.
What could have been with Len Bias.
3.
The man above averaged 32//7/8 at his peak in that uniform. He was a PROBLEM and is soooo overlooked as far as all-time great. He has the numbers, the clutch gene, he was a facilitator that didn’t need help. I enjoyed watching him as a young kid live.
Injuries cut down his short-term impact and legend as an all-time great. His career has been able to be appreciated after he was gone. He was a bad boy and was the baddest with the scarlet injury prone attached to him…unfairly.
Great post, Sean.
I haven’t been a big follower of international basketball competition so I don’t remember Oscar Schmidt scoring 55 points except as a reference for Luka’ great game.
I do remember Len Bias, however, and his death after using cocaine and how the Celtics karma seemed to be permanently damaged after that. Great player.
T-Mac got lost in Orlando. Put him in LA or NY and he would be in many of those conversations about great point guards. The size of the market can impact a player’s legacy.
Luka gave Oscar’s record a scare but he honored the Basket Ball Gods and did the right thing. Slovenia has a solid chance to medal. 🇸🇮
Not having practical knowledge of medical protocols I will certainly defer to your expertise on Len but I still feel like it’s a blow the Celtics never recovered from.
As for Penny, he was the man. Like so many great players his body betrayed him before he. Oils truly etch his name in NBA stone and of course Shaq coming west to LA didn’t help.
Yup
Yep!