Founder
Brazil's Oscar Schmidt will be inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.
Many always wondered what could have been if the legendary player from overseas played in the NBA, but couldn't since it would have made him ineligible to play for his country again.
Schmidt drafted by the Nets back in 1984, but didn't play due to the rules. However, that all changed in 1992, but by that time Schmidt was 34 years old. It was too late for him to make any kind of spark in the league.
Schmidt talked about the what-if scenario, saying he would have been one of the 10 best NBA players of all-time had he played in the United States:
He said he would have been one of the 10 best players in the NBA if the basketball world had been different in the 1970s and ‘80s, and he came to the United States. And not one of the 10 best in the league. One of the 10 best ever,Schmidt, now 55, ended up getting a laugh from the crowd in the sign of respect, as he still remains confident as ever today.
“Yes,” Schmidt said. “Anytime. It was easier, because in the NBA at that time it was one-on-one, always. One-on-one, I’m free. If it comes to two players guarding me, maybe.”
Insert big laugh.
“I would be one of the best 10 ever.”
