There are so many "what ifs" in sports and many of them just leave you with a perpetual questioning of the bizarre circumstances of previous eras. Such is the one we have here...

This is the official document through which the New Jersey Nets extended an invitation in 1984 to Oscar Schmidt, whom they had selected with the 131st pick in the 6th round of that year’s draft.

The document is signed by the Nets’ General Manager at the time, Bob MacKinnon. Reading it, we see that the American executive informs Oscar about the training camp schedule, which would take place at Princeton University facilities from August 10 to 17. On the 13th, he would face rookies and free agents from New York, the Sixers, and Washington, who would also be trying to earn a spot in the magical world of the NBA.

“Mão Santa” accepted the invitation and traveled to the United States, where he trained with the Nets and made an excellent impression—so strong that the organization offered him a guaranteed contract.

However, the well-known issues with amateur status and FIBA regulations forced Schmidt to decline the offer. If he had turned professional, he would have automatically lost his eligibility to play for the Brazilian national team.

Three years later, in Indianapolis, the “Pelé of basketball” would show the Americans that perhaps he should have become a member of the Nets. Had that happened, they might not have suffered their first-ever defeat on American soil...