Oscar Schmidt: The man leading LeBron James in points

You may think LeBron James is the greatest scorer in basketball history but look no further than Oscar Schmidt, the real greatest scorer in basketball history.

When you think basketball GOATs, you think of Michael Jordan, LeBron James, and Kareem Abdul Jabbar, but for kids outside the USA, Schmidt is idolized.

Oscar Schmidt, the man dubbed the 'Holy Hand,' played professional basketball for 29 years, making his name for the Brazilian National team but never playing in the NBA.

His extensive career, which started in 1974 and ended in 2003, helped Schmidt reach a points total of 49,737 points. LeBron James is 2,004 points away from that total.

As well as the Brazilian National team, Schmidt plied his trade in Brazil's domestic league and Europe, playing in Italy and Spain.

In his home country of Brazil, Schmidt has won eight scoring titles. Whilst playing in Italy, the 'Holy Hand' added seven more scoring titles, inspiring a future NBA legend.

Los Angeles Lakers legend Kobe Bryant was a young kid when his father, Joe Bryant, was competing against Oscar Schmidt in Italy, and Schmidt left a lasting impression on the 'Black Mamba.'

According to basketballnetwork.net, a young Kobe Bryant said: "He was Larry Bird before I ever got to see what Bird was."

Schmidt represented Brazil at five Olympic Games and is the all-time Olympic scorer with 1,038 points. He is also the FIBA World Cup points record holder with 906.

Over the years, Schmidt and his Brazilian team had some legendary encounters with some of the USA's finest players.

In the final of the 1987 Pan American Games, Schmidt scored 46 points over David Robinson and co as Brazil took the gold home. Against the 1992 'Dream Team,' the 'Holy Hand' scored 31 points over Michael Jordan.

His outstanding career led him to basketball heaven, being inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in 2013.

Schmidt was drafted in the sixth round of the 1984 NBA Draft by the New Jersey Nets. He had been a professional for ten years and decided to do two Nets training camps in 1984 and 1985.

The Brazilian was offered a guaranteed contract by the New Jersey Nets, but Schmidt declined because NBA players were banned from representing their national teams at the time.

The rule was abolished in 1989, but Schmidt was offered more money in Italy, meaning he could make a better living and still represent his beloved national team.

It is with no doubt that Oscar 'Holy Hand' Schmidt is the most legendary player to never play in the NBA!