Oscar Schmidt’s son Felipe pens emotional farewell to the basketball legend dad

Oscar Schmidt, the Basketball Hall of Famer and known as the "Holy Hand" to his fans died Friday at the age of 68.

As reported by The Independent, he was battling brain tumor for 15 years. “The biggest player of Brazilian basketball history bids farewell as an absolute symbol of sport, the holder of a trajectory that redefined the boundaries of what was possible in a court,” the Brazil Basketball Confederation said in a statement.

Oscar Schmidt’s son, Felipe, has posted an emotional tribute to his father on social media.

"Today the world lost an idol, and I lost my dad. Today is not being an easy day When people said that the pain of losing a parent is unexplainable, they were right. A void is created inside you, you become grounded, and it feels like a piece of you has been ripped out," he wrote in the long post.

"And as a son all I have to say is dad I'm going to miss you I'm going to honor everything you taught me to be as a man and try to be at least 10% of the human being you were. You were an example of life to me, and I will never, ever forget you," he writes.

"You may now rest in peace Dad Say hi to our Nona Your in the hall of fame of life," he concludes the post.

Social media reaction

Fans have offered their condolences. "The Oscar has incalculable importance for Brazilian sport. But to his family he was much more. My condolences for your dad's loss! May he rest in peace and may God comfort them at this sad moment!," one fan wrote. "Dear Felipe a big kiss, wisdom to get through this moment," another wrote.

"My condolences my friend, may God comfort all his family members," a third user expressed grief.

An old commercial and memories

A day before, Felipe had posted an old commercial he did with his dad years ago. "A time when basketball was my world and I was still beginning to understand what it really meant to train. Today I look at this and see that a lot of stuff I carry in racing started there.. in living together, in discipline, in the example inside the house," he wrote.