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Ralph Sampson

Ralph Sampson

Ralph Sampson
(Born 1960)

Hall of Fame Induction: 2012

Card Shown:
2014-15 Panini Flawless
Hall of Fame

Position: C/PF
Height: 7’4″

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Ralph Sampson was a tall (7’4″) center who possessed the skills of a smaller player.  He could handle the ball, run the floor, pass, and he was a good shooter.  Of course, with his size, Sampson had many highlight dunks and had the ability to protect the rim.  Ralph was a superstar in high school and in college.  His professional career, in the NBA, had flashes of brilliance and Sampson was undoubtedly a great player.  Unfortunately, injuries shortened his NBA career and hid from us the potential accomplishments that might have been.

Awards and Honors

  • Sampson led his high school team, in Harrisonburg, Virginia, to two state titles.
  • Ralph was named the Naismith College Player of the Year three times (1981, 1982, 1983) while playing at the University of Virginia.  The only other player to receive the Naismith award three times is Hall of Famer Bill Walton, who played at UCLA.  Sampson also received the John Wooden Award for the top college basketball player in 1982 and 1983.
  • Ralph led Virginia to the 1980 NIT Championship and a year later took the Cavaliers to the Final Four.
  • He was named to the NBA All-Rookie First Team in 1983-84.  He was also selected to the All-NBA Second Team in 1984-85.
  • Sampson was a four-time NBA All-Star from 1984-1987, although he did not play in the 1987 game due to injury.  In 1985 he was named the All-Star Game Most Valuable Player.

Points of Interest

  • In the 1983 NBA Draft the Houston Rockets selected Sampson with the number one overall pick.
  • Ralph Sampson (7’4″) and Hakeem Olajuwon (7’0″) teamed up to form the Twin Towers for the Houston Rockets.  The two led the Rockets to the NBA Playoffs in 1985, 1986, and 1987.
  • In 1986, Sampson’s famous shot with one second left on the clock eliminated the defending champion Los Angeles Lakers from the playoff in the fifth and deciding game.  The Rockets advanced to the NBA Finals where they were defeated in six games by the Boston Celtics.
  • In his nine-year NBA career, Ralph played for the Houston Rockets, the Golden State Warriors, the Sacramento Kings, and the Washington Bullets.  He posted career averages of 15.4 points, 8.8 rebounds, and 2.3 assists per game.
  • Sampson’s career was cut short by injuries and some have wondered how his career might have played out differently if Ralph had been able to stay healthy.

Statistics

Ralph Sampson Statistics
provided by Basketball-Reference.com

Ralph Sampson Videos

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