”Kobe said he used to call me `La Bomba’ (the bomb in Italian). In Brazil everyone calls me `Holy Hand’ because of my throws, but I liked his nickname for me, too,” said Schmidt, who opted not to play in the NBA despite being drafted by the New Jersey Nets in 1984. ”I was 26, traveled all the way and the Nets picked me in the 6th round! I told Kobe that was an insult. He agreed,” the Brazilian said.