NBA House 2026 honors Oscar Schmidt in tribute to basketball legend
NBA House 2026 will pay a special tribute to Oscar Schmidt, one of the biggest names in the history of international basketball and the biggest name in the sport in Brazil.
A member of the NBA Hall of Fame, the FIBA Hall of Fame and the Brazilian Olympic Committee Hall of Fame, the eternal "Mão Santa" will be celebrated during the 10th edition of the event in the country, in a space dedicated to his career and the legacy he helped build for Brazilian basketball.
Brazilian basketball legend, former player Oscar Schmidt died on April 17, aged 68. The idol immortalized the number 14 shirt of the Brazilian Basketball Team.
Oscar is a source of pride for Brazilian basketball and for me, says Hortência | CNN PRIME TIME
The tribute space will bring together historical memorabilia, audiovisual content and emblematic records of the career of an athlete who helped shape basketball culture in the country and inspired generations of fans and players.
Among the items on display will be shirts worn by Oscar Schmidt with the Brazilian National Team in important moments, such as the Pan American Games in Indianapolis, in 1987, and the Olympic Games in Barcelona, in 1992, in addition to the shirt used in the NBA All-Star Celebrity Game, in New Orleans, in 2017, the Naismith Hall of Fame blazer, uniforms from Brazilian clubs defended throughout his career and personal objects, such as the sneaker worn when he surpassed the historic scoring mark in 2001.
The initiative reinforces the NBA's commitment to celebrating athletes who contributed to the growth of the sport in Brazil and to bringing together the past, present and future of a community of fans increasingly connected to the sport.
About NBA House 2026
With approximately 6 thousand square meters of interactive attractions linked to basketball and pop culture, NBA House 2026 will be held at Shopping Eldorado, in São Paulo, between the 3rd and 21st of June. This year's edition marks the 10th anniversary of the event in Brazil and will have the largest structure ever assembled at the site.
The event will feature immersive experiences for fans of all ages, including:
- NBA Finals broadcasts on game nights
- Live musical performances
- Official store with exclusive merchandise
- Outdoor basketball court with food and beverage options
- Special appearances by celebrities and personalities linked to the NBA, as well as mascots, dunk teams and dance groups.
"Holy hand"
Considered one of the greatest basketball athletes of all time, Oscar Schmidt had a career of glories and historic achievements, whether for the Brazilian national team or for the clubs he played for.
Even without having played in the powerful NBA - he had the chance, but gave it up - Oscar managed to write his name in the sport. They were decisive points in national basketball, when they defended great teams in the country, in addition to being missed in Europe, especially in Italian basketball.
An icon of international sports, he was part of the FIBA Hall of Fame and, in an unprecedented way, also the NBA Hall of Fame, even though he had never played in the league.
Recognized for his genius and global impact, he was named one of the 100 greatest basketball players of all time.
Victorious club career
Oscar Schmidt began his successful career in the 1970s, when he defended the colors of Palmeiras and Sírio. In Verdão, he won important titles, such as the Paulista in 1974, at just 16 years old, and the Brasileiro in 1977.
In Sírio, Oscar was part of the historic world champion team in 1979, in a packed Ibirapuera gymnasium. In addition to Mão Santa, the São Paulo team was led by Cláudio Mortari and had names like Marcelo Vido and Marquinhos Abdalla.
In the 1980s, Oscar played for Italian basketball. At the time, the European league was considered one of the most prestigious in the world, and the Brazilian legend scored 14 thousand points.
There, he played for JuveCaserta for eight seasons, making more than 200 appearances and winning an Italian Cup. In Pavia, it was three years. Due to his successful career, Oscar had shirts retired from both Italian teams.
In 1984, the Brazilian was drafted by the New Jersey Nets, but gave up a place in the powerful league to continue defending Brazil. At the time, NBA athletes were not allowed to defend their national teams.
In 1995, Oscar decided to return to Brazilian basketball and wore the Corinthians shirt, becoming Brazilian champion the following year.
At the end of his career, Oscar also defended another mass team. With Flamengo, he lifted two state titles and became the greatest scorer in the history of the sport by surpassing ex-NBA Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's mark of 46,725 points.
Oscar has also worn the shirts of América do Rio (1982), Fórum de Valladolid, in Spain (between 1993 and 1995), Banco Bandeirantes (1997 and 1998) and Mackenzie (1998 and 1999).
Oscar Schmidt represents the advancement of basketball on the court, says Álvaro José | CNN PRIME TIME
Golden era in the national team with Oscar
Oscar Schmidt wrote his name in national basketball early. In 1977, he was voted the best center in the 1977 South American Youth Championship, earning a place in the main team soon after.
The greatest achievement of Mão Santa's career came at the Indianapolis Pan in 1987. In the final, Brazil won the gold medal after a spectacular comeback, a result that became the United States' first home defeat in history.
At the Olympics, there were five participations. The first, in Moscow, he scored 169 points and helped Brazil to fifth place. Four years later, in Los Angeles, he scored 169 points again.
In the 1988 edition, in Seoul, Oscar was the competition's top scorer with 338 points. Mão Santa also wore green and yellow in Barcelona 1992 and Atlanta 1996.
Oscar Schmidt, Brazilian basketball legend, dies at age 68
Source: CNN