Brazilian basketball star Oscar Schmidt released after tumor removed

 Brazilian basketball legend Oscar Schmidt was released from the Albert Einstein Hospital in Sao Paulo on Thursday after his brain tumor had been removed.

The 53-year-old was rushed into surgery after complaints of a sharp headache. A tumor was found in his left-frontal part of his brain and was immediately removed.

While on vacation with his wife to celebrate their 30th wedding anniversary in Orlando, Florida, USA, Schmidt suddenly came down with severe migraines. Returning to Brazil, he fainted and was soon after admitted to the Albert Einstein Hospital.

Tests pointed to a brain tumor as a cause of the sudden discomfort. Receiving an emergency operation and having been under observation for eight days, Schmidt was released from the doctors' care. The operation appears to be successful, and the tumor taken from his brain was diagnosed as malignant.

Oscar Schmidt was inducted into the FIBA Hall of Fame in 2010. He currently holds the record for most points scored professionally, an incredible 49,703. In his career while playing for the Brazilian Olympic basketball team, he averaged 28.3 points, scoring a total of 1093 points over 38 games.

Schmidt is best known for his stellar performance in the 1987 Pan American Games in Indianapolis, Indiana, USA. In the finals against the Americans, which included Keith Smart, Pervis Ellison and future NBA stars Danny Manning and David Robinson, Schmidt lead the game with 46 points in a 120-115 victory, winning the gold medal.

Schmidt was sought out by several NBA teams during his career, but rejected offers from teams such as the New Jersey Nets, preferring to remain in Brazil.

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