MADRID (FIBA Basketball World Cup) - Oscar Schmidt knows a thing or two about playing at international tournaments as the Brazil legend competed at FIBA's flagship event four times - including a third-place finish in 1978 - as well as five Olympics.

Schmidt's career scoring average in those nine competitions was 27.1 points, including a remarkable 42.2 points per game at the 1988 Olympics, where he scored 55 points against Spain.

The 56-year-old FIBA Hall of Fame inductee travelled to Spain for the 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup on holiday with his family, watching the games in Madrid.

Schmidt took some time to talk to FIBA.com about the first-ever FIBA Basketball World Cup, how to beat the United States, Brazil beating a medal contender at the 2016 Olympics and why he would love to play with France's Boris Diaw.

FIBA.com: Oscar Schmidt, we know you are on vacation, the basketball community thanks you very much for allowing us to steal a couple of moments from your family. We are here in Madrid at the 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup. What are your thoughts about the first-ever World Cup?
Schmidt: The United States against Serbia is an interesting Final. But to see first Brazil and then Spain not in the Semi-Finals was not that good. Spain, okay, they only lost by a little. But Brazil lost by 30 and for this team it's too much. I think we can re-group for the Olympics and maybe fight for a medal. But the United States and Serbia is a good Final.

FIBA: What do you think about this Final? One of them is mix of players almost considered a B-team in the United States against a young Serbian team with a coach who was a legend as a player but doesn’t have a lot of coaching experience in Serbia.
Schmidt: (Sasha) Djordjevic was a very good player and he understands every part of the game. And Serbia are in good hands. But the United States is a beatable team. And I thought that Spain would be that team that could be champions. They lost against France and now Serbia has chance. But it will be a very hard game for them.

FIBA: You've seen a lot of basketball in your life and have been part of upsets yourself. Where would you rank France's victory over Spain in regards to the biggest upsets in international history?
Schmidt: I think the worst one. Spain, playing at home, should be much stronger than they were. And if you defend good just 50 percent of the game you must score to win any game and they didn't. They shot very badly. And they lost the rebounds 50 to 28 - it's too much because Spain is a good rebounding team. I put that in the worst play. And that's the second time for them. They're gaining experience in that.

FIBA: When you look at Spain, some say the generation is getting older while France are gaining experience for their young players. Argentina's great generation is getting much older as well. Who do you see emerging as the main power to challenge the United States?
Schmidt: I think Brazil. Brazil might be the first one. And then Lithuania and Serbia. All these teams are getting better. France maybe if they are complete with Tony Parker. There are a few teams that could be the US team, especially this team. This team is not that formidable as a team. It’s a beatable team. But Spain is not in the final. Let’s see if Serbia believes enough to beat them.

FIBA: What's a way this USA team could be beaten?
Schmidt: They don't have many shooters, and shooters are important. If Serbia defend with a zone, they're going to have problem. A good zone - not a 2-3 just ho-hum. If they defend with a good zone, the US will have a problem.

FIBA: You mentioned the Olympics. You are from Natal in Brazil, which hosted the 2014 FIFA World Cup. Rio de Janeiro will be hosting the 2016 Olympics. How excited are you that your home country will host the Summer Games?
Schmidt: For me it was a dream. I dreamt to play an official FIBA game in Brazil. I never had a chance. Now Brazil has the Olympic Games. So, for sure, we're going to have our best Olympics. All of the sports will be playing at home. I think our basketball team is ready for a medal. Playing at home is hard, you can go strong or you can go weak. If we have enough balls we can get a medal.

FIBA: Who do you see as the main players for Brazil at the 2016 Games?
Schmidt: For me (Anderson) Varejao, Alex Garcia and Marcelinho (Huertas).

FIBA: Coming back to this World Cup, is there a team or a couple of players who have impressed you?
Schmidt: Of course. I like Varejao a lot. I think any player dreams to play with him. He's the heart of Brazil. I like many others. From the United States there are like six good players. From Serbia, there is (Milos) Teodosic. From France there is (Nicolas) Batum. That's enough. 

FIBA: It shows that the game is alive and well outside of the United States.
Schmidt: It was always alive. The US college players played really great and now you have the professionals. If you don't put the best players there, you lose. Let's see this game tomorrow but I think they will win. Because if Serbia doesn't have enough will, they can't win.

FIBA: Looking at the style of play, how does it compare today to how you played?
Schmidt: I think it's the same game. If you give me the ball, I'm free every time. In any period. I feel it's the same. Basketball is still the same. But if you don't have players with balls, give me the ball and I do it, then you lose like Spain.

FIBA: Do you see any, let’s call it,  positional revolution?
Schmidt: I see that shooters are becoming very rare. Like Batum is very good. I see that position number three is something countries need to develop more.

FIBA: Is another position taking more responsibility?
Schmidt: No, I just don't think they are practicing enough. Because if you're a number three and you practice enough, then you will be a good scorer. If you don't practice, you won't score. If you practice you will. That's my look at it. I see many pivots (centers), an exaggeration of pivots. I don't understand why people go inside to shoot against these pivots. Shoot from the outside. If you don’t have any courage, don’t shoot anywhere and just pass the ball. If I was playing these days I would shoot outside every time.

FIBA: Who would be your favourite player to play with?
Schmidt: My favourite player to play with is… (Boris) Diaw from France. He's tough. He scores when you need to score late in the game. He almost plays alone at the end. For me, I think basketball starts in the last three minutes. The other 37 minutes is to fill. If you don't lose by 20, the last three minutes count. And he plays great in the last three minutes. If I played with him, I would be free every time. 

FIBA: And last question, who would be your favourite player to play against?
Schmidt: To play against, Varejao. He's a tough guy. He can guard anybody. Even the playmakers.

FIBA