A real NCAA phenomenon under the colors of Virginia (elected best player three years in a row), Ralph Sampson (born July 7, 1960) is logically drafted in number 1 by the Rockets in 1983. From the first season, this huge fellow of 2m24 panics the meters: 21.0 points, 11.1 rebounds and 2.4 against average! It is the Victor Wembanyama of his time, and we are talking about him as the new Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. The next year, Houston chooses again first during the famous Draft 1984 and selects a certain Akeem Olajuwon (without H in Hakeem).
A pivot when Ralph Sampson is already there, but why?
Because Ralph Sampson was a winger. Stark shots, “coastt-to-coast” and dribbles in the back did not frighten it. It is the ancestor of Kristaps Porzingis and Victor Wembanyama. Compared to the French, he had the same dexterity bullet in hand, but his shot halfway was clearly less to the point. It should still be remembered that 40 years ago, the positions were well anchored and the fleeting interiors were rare, even non -existent.
Equally incredible: his participation in the Slam Dunk Contest 1984. Here again, the dunks carried out by Wembanyama in the warm -up are of the same level, or even better since the French passes “rider”.
Magic Johnson's Lakers dominated
But don't get me wrong, just like Wembanyama, Ralph Sampson was not a fair phenomenon, but a whole good.
Four selections at the All-Star Game, a selection in the best second five of the League, Rookie of the Year… on an individual level, he collected honors and he was really a very good player, as he proved to the 1985 All-Star Game by winning the MVP trophy. By his side, that big names: Magic Johnson, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Akeem Olajuwon, George Gervin, to name a few …
On the collective level, he also made the NBA tremble in 1986. Associated with Akeem Olajuwon to train the first generation “Twin Towers”, Ralph Sampson eliminates the Lakers of the big era on a Buzzer shoot! When FinalsLarry Bird's Celtics put an end to their title hopes (4-2 defeat), but everyone sees the Rockets as future champions …
Except that Ralph Sampson does not yet know that these Finals will be the top of his career. Because the rest will be much less glorious, because of his grinking knees (triple operation!) And his great carcass which has more and more difficult to keep the infernal pace of the NBA. This is the main concern about the future of Wembanyama. Sampson, but also Porzingis, were very slowed down by injuries …
“” “It was an incredible experience to play together“, He will explain a few years later, about his duet with Akeem Olajuwon.“I would have liked to play longer with him. I believe that no one had imagined the extent of our duo, because no one had really tried it. There are guys who have also been called the 'Twin Towers' but not our level. We were the original 'Twin Towers'. With its qualities and mine, it was really unique.»
“Has been” at 29 years old…
In 1988, Houston can no longer see him at the infirmary and sent him to Golden State. It will be the start of the end for Ralph Sampson. Only three years after reaching the Finalsit only runs only 6.4 points, 5.0 rebounds and 1.1 against average. At 29, he is already a “has been”, in a career that somewhat recalls those of Brandon Roy, Gilbert Arenas or Penny Hardaway. A shooting star.
Without glory, and after two last passages in Sacramento then Washington, he retired NBA at 31 years old. He will try the European adventure, but his freelash in Spain will not change anything. It is only a ghost on the parquet floors. A large carcass that can no longer go back and forth on the ground …
In 1992, Ralph Sampson thus drew a final line on his player career and decided to become a coach. It is found as assistant in NCAA or in minor leagues. While justice caught up with him for the non -payment of alimony and various scams, one of his sons, Ralph Sampson III, has made a correct career on the side of the University of Minnesota.
As for Ralph SR, he entered the Hall of Fame in 2012, Honoré for his exceptional university career more than for his flash passage in the NBA, where he left a nickname to posterity with Hakeem Olajuwon (with an H): the “Twin Towers”. Two avant-garde interiors according to him.
“” “I could go up the field and he too, so you had two players capable of supporting a high pace without having to go and post at the bottom of the racket. We could dribble, we could shoot and as people often tell me, we were probably a little ahead of our time.»
Their spiritual son is French, and like them, he is number 1 of the draft. And like Sampson, he was Rookie of the Year.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?
| Ralph Sampson | Percentage | Rebound | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | MJ | Min | Shots | 3pts | Lf | Off | Def | Early | PD | Fte | Int | COP | Ct | Pts |
| 1983-84 | Hou | 82 | 33 | 52.3 | 25.0 | 66.1 | 3.0 | 7.0 | 11.1 | 1.0 | 4.0 | 0.0 | 3.0 | 2.0 | 21.0 |
| 1984-85 | Hou | 82 | 38 | 50.2 | 0.0 | 67.6 | 2.0 | 7.0 | 10.4 | 2.0 | 3.0 | 0.0 | 3.0 | 2.0 | 22.1 |
| 1985-86 | Hou | 79 | 36 | 48.8 | 13.3 | 64.1 | 3.0 | 7.0 | 11.1 | 3.0 | 3.0 | 1.0 | 3.0 | 1.0 | 18.9 |
| 1986-87 | Hou | 43 | 31 | 48.9 | 0.0 | 62.4 | 2.0 | 6.0 | 8.6 | 2.0 | 3.0 | 0.0 | 2.0 | 1.0 | 15.6 |
| 1987-88 * | All Teams | 48 | 35 | 43.8 | 18.2 | 76.0 | 2.0 | 6.0 | 9.6 | 2.0 | 3.0 | 0.0 | 3.0 | 1.0 | 15.6 |
| 1987-88 * | Gos | 29 | 33 | 43.8 | 0.0 | 77.5 | 2.0 | 7.0 | 10.0 | 2.0 | 3.0 | 0.0 | 3.0 | 1.0 | 15.4 |
| 1987-88 * | Hou | 19 | 37 | 43.9 | 33.3 | 74.1 | 3.0 | 6.0 | 9.1 | 1.0 | 3.0 | 0.0 | 3.0 | 1.0 | 16.0 |
| 1988-89 | Gos | 61 | 18 | 44.9 | 37.5 | 65.3 | 1.0 | 3.0 | 5.0 | 1.0 | 2.0 | 0.0 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 6.4 |
| 1989-90 | BAG | 26 | 16 | 37.2 | 25.0 | 52.2 | 0.0 | 2.0 | 3.2 | 1.0 | 2.0 | 0.0 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 4.2 |
| 1990-91 | BAG | 25 | 14 | 36.6 | 20.0 | 26.3 | 1.0 | 2.0 | 4.4 | 0.0 | 2.0 | 0.0 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 3.0 |
| 1991-92 | Wast | 10 | 11 | 31.0 | 0.0 | 66.7 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 3.0 | 0.0 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 2.2 |
| Total | 456 | 30 | 48.6 | 17.2 | 66.1 | 2.0 | 6.0 | 8.8 | 2.0 | 3.0 | 0.0 | 2.0 | 1.0 | 15.4 | |
How to read the stats? MJ = matches played; Min = minutes; Shots = successful shots / tempted shots; 3pts = 3-point / 3-point attempted; LF = Successful free throws / tempted free throws; Off = offensive rebound; Def = defensive rebound; Tot = Total rebounds; PD = assists; FTE: Personal faults; Int = interceptions; BP = lost bullets; CT: against; Pts = points.
