MADRID (Olympics) - Oscar Schmidt played for Brazil 326 times in his long and storied career.

He has certainly earned the right to voice his opinions when it comes to the national team.

The five-time Olympian who is in the FIBA Hall of Fame could straddle the fence and not risk upsetting his compatriots, but that's not his way.

In Madrid on Thursday night at a joint FIBA and FEB presentation ahead of the 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup in Spain, Oscar didn't hold back.

FIBA: Leandro Barbosa and Nene didn't play last summer at the FIBA Americas Championship in Mar del Plata. Is it true that you believe they should be left out of the country's Olympic squad?

Oscar: Yes, I think morally, Nene and Leandrinho should not come. But rationally, with those two, we are stronger. So it's a very hard decision for (Coach Ruben) Magnano. He knows that. I think he'll make the right choice. The only thing is, we had a team that fought for the place and got the place and these players should go to the Olympics. But, this is Magnano's choice.

FIBA: A couple of players that were in Argentina and helped the team qualify, Tiago Splitter and Marcelo Huertas, have become the real lynchpins in the national side. Huertas is now at Barcelona, Splitter in San Antonio with the Spurs. What do you think about these players?

Oscar: They are my two favorite players. I love those two. Marcelo became the leader. We didn't have a leader for many years and Marcelo took that spot. Tiago is a great guy that any father wants as a son. Right now, he is playing with (San Antonio Spurs great) Tim Duncan and he can learn a lot and help the national team. I love these two players. And I love the way that Marcelinho Machado plays, so I hope that he can come to the Olympics. I'm very happy that Brazil is getting back to the first level of world basketball.

FIBA: The team has been very, very good the last couple of summers. Brazil almost upset the United States in Istanbul. Is this Brazil team one that can aim for the medals?

Oscar: Yes, we're going to be a serious medal contender. Everybody plays good basketball. In Brazil now, we are living a new time in basketball, with a new president who is doing a good job, taking care of the national team and has a phenomenal coach like Magnano leading the team. We have players in the NBA, players in Europe, and I think we can fight for a medal in the Olympics, and in the (2014) World Cup. Why not?

FIBA: You have played in a lot of big events for Brazil. How are these tournaments changing, particularly the FIBA Basketball World Cup?

Oscar: They have changed for the better. More money, more importance more good teams - everything is getting better.

FIBA: And Spain? What will the event be like?

Oscar: It's going to be nice, just as nice as in Turkey, as nice as in Japan. FIBA does a good job with these events and Spain has a passion for basketball so I think it's going to be a very, very beautiful World Cup.

FIBA