LITTLE ROCK — A legend shows up
Even Kobe Bryant wanted a picture with him.
Brazilian basketball legend Oscar Schmidt visited the U.S. men’s basketball practice on Monday and was somewhat surprised he was recognized by players too young to have seen him play. Schmidt scored nearly 50,000 points during his career. He never played in the NBA, however, he made his mark on American hoops by almost single-handedly beating the U.S. at the 1987 Pan American Games in Indianapolis.
Schmidt led Brazil to a victory over an American team featuring David Robinson and Danny Manning.
There was some debate among U.S. reporters Monday about Schmidt’s point total before he was asked.
“I scored 46,” he said, “35 in the second half.”
You hardly missed, he was told.
“That was always the case,” he said laughing.
Sports, Pages 20 on 07/31/2012