@@bigben0316 And the Lakers would have lost to Houston in the WCF and could have bested the Celtics in 87-88. Defeated Detroit, too. Not so sure about the Bulls. I would gave liked to see that happen.
I never knew this man until I was at my travel basketball game in Harrisonburg VA and I saw him, I got a picture and I have been looking how good he was, when I saw him he was old and like 7ft 4, he is a great man
I know most people wouldn't think to make this comparison but the modern day player that reminds me most of Ralph Sampson is Kristaps Porzingis. KP is a better shooter and maybe not quite the athlete Sampson was in his prime but the idea of a 7'3"/7'4" skinny fluid high post big man began a generation before with Sampson.
Ralph was best as a mobile forward, Dr. J like, on the wings. He was never a natural center. He is a terrific person. He's in the Nice Person Hall of Fame, certainly!
if it wasn't for his bad knees he I think he could have been like Kevin Durant Sampson had the moves like KD but his injuries at 7'4" some thing had to give he ran like a 5' 8" guard .......
This guy was called to be one of the most dominants centers in NBA history but injuries made his career a short dream. It reminds me of Greg Oden but in this case if Sampson would have been healthy maybe Olajuwon would have never exploded and become "the dream". We will never know.
Sampson was settled into power forward as soon as Olajuwon came abroad. And Olajuwon put up big numbers as soon as he came abroad, and - more pertinently - Olajuwon was already the team's #1 option and the leading scorer by his second year, before Sampson even got injured. Olajuwon was going to be the man in Houston, with or without Sampson.
You got it a bit reverse. Initially, Sampson was better offensively, but Olajuwon better defensively and rebounding-wise - as he was a bit raw early in his NBA career and relied almost exclusively on his physicality.
@@flappyturtle472 Of all the guys you mentioned, i'd say that only Wilt could match bis ahleticism or be considered more athletic than Sampson. But both were once in a lifetime talents, look at the way he moves at that height. He's multiple inches taller than Giannis and their movement in terms of speed and body control looks very similar.
@@flappyturtle472 i may have gotten carried away but this guy is 7'4"!!!!! russel was like 6'10" wilt is more of course but i have to disagree with the other examples
He was dripling like a guard,shooting like a small forward,running like a atleth and he was 2.23 !! He was so unlucky Man bcs of his knee😔 He was best of the best
The music in this video is so sad, I guess it's because it's sad his career ended so quickly. The 1986 Rockets tore through the Champion Lakers, so it's fitting that the 1986 Celtics who beat the Rockets are considered one of the great teams of all time, and Bird's best team.
Sadly, Ralph was 30 years ahead of his time. I can't help but think he would have lasted way longer in today's games without battling Jabbar, Gilmore, Dawkins, Cartwright, Parrish and the other big bruising centers. He had the speed and athleticism to compete with any of the bigs in today's game.
I saw fellow draftees Sidney Green Clyde Drexler Darrell Walker Randy Wittman Roy Hinson Rodney McCray and Antoine Carr sitting alongside Sampson in the crowd
Faced some of the greatest teams ever in the NBA and more than held his own. Hated to see him let that punk Sichting or whatever his name was for the Celtics bait him into that fight in Game 5 of the '86 Finals. I was rooting for the Rockets so hard that series.
What could've been a great dynasty in Houston. It's sad that injuries derailed his career in Houston. Olajuwon and Sampson would have been champions for years to come.
Sampson, for his time, was THE prototype center. He could dribble like a guard, run the floor and an inside / outside offensive/ defensive threat. He was ahead of his time but sadly his career was cut short. If only….
So wait... the rockets had the original Twin Towers? Just found an ole Sports Illustrated, highlighting this man on the front cover, from 1979... ALSO, I am 90% SURE, that Jack Nicholson was at that game when he beat the Lakers!!!! Look at 03:08 and you can see a guy, looking just like Jack!!!!! WOW.
I remember Al McQuire, who used to commentate on NCAA basketball games for NBC, once said that had Sampson been 6'4 rather than 7'4, he'd still be an all-American; his skills and talent make him that. And he was right. But it's a shame that injuries cut his career short. Had he stayed healthy, he probably would have accomplished more than MJ during his pro career.
IDC what others think. Ralph deserved to go into the HOF. If he never injured his knees, Ralph would have revolutionized the power ford and center positions, and the game itself. He could score, run the break off a block, a good rebounder blocked, pass the ball. His weakness was his temper and his knees. He could shoot the hook from midrange with consistency, play the low post with great quickness, leap, fend off a defender and his the open jumper. The Rockets did Ralph dirty. He could have come off of the bench. Snd being 7.3 or 7.4. Ralph was hard to stop. He also had a desire to WN. Too bad that he couldn't have played 6th mam with the Celtics. Ralph could have easily scored 30000 plus points. You won't be forgotten by your fans, Ralph. Hakeem might have been better in some ways. But Ralph was awesome before his knees forced him into retirement.
I miss the days when most players dunked the ball and got back on defense instead of acting like it's the first time it's ever been done. When you are 6'4" or bigger, it's not exactly one of the greatest accomplishments ever achieved by mankind.
"When you are 6'4" or bigger, it's not exactly one of the greatest accomplishments ever achieved by mankind." I feel better about the few dunks I have done, especially the barefoot one without a running start.
I don't think anyone else in NBA history would have both the height and the quickness to pull off the dunk at 2:16. He didn't even have time to gather himself or really jump after picking up the ball.
Ralph Sampson was nowhere as athletic as the young, pre-weight lifting Wilt Chamberlain - who was actually a world class high jumper and triple jumper in college. Likewise, Bill Russell was a world class high jumper.
Un 2,24 cm che si muoveva ed aveva l'agilità di una persona alta 1,80 cm..e con dei "fondamentali" più che ottimi..mai rivista in vita mia una cosa così
He only had three good years. Not great years, good years. After that the injuries began and his career went downhill. Extremely weak career numbers for a hall of famer.
That's because you deviated away from the topic by comparing Ralph Sampson to Earl Lloyd who also has weak career numbers but holds the distinction of being the first black player to play in an NBA game. The two eras and circumstances are drastically different. Ralph Sampson didn't have a great career. Not even close. Feel free to come back with a real argument that pertains to Ralph Sampson and why you think his disappointing career warrants enshrinement in the hof.
First of all, Olajuwon was center and Sampson power forward on that team before Sampson even got hurt. The Houston staff - correctly - determined that Olajuwon's physical traits and skills were better-suited for the NBA pivot. As for Sampson being the greatest "of all time," come on; I've seen Sampson from his UVA days, and that isn't happening before the Second Coming. Sampson was great, and - at least in college - dominant; but he was not THAT great.
Sampson was matched up against Kareem/Parish on BOTH ends for the majority of the '86 postseason. He basically played center against elite competition.
Sampson was a 20-10 guy, I don't think he could ever average 30-15 in one season, even after the injuries, he still kept averaging 11 rebs per game even in his worst years, althoug he decreased his scoring numbers. A 20-10 guy is an excellent basketball player. And everybody in the NBA wants a guy who averages 11 rebs per game, and he was also a great shot blocker. In other words, he was spectacular to watch, but he was not as good as Akeem was. But it 's true that his career was a dissapointment, he would be all star every season, if he had stayed healthy.
One of the most overrated players that NEVER won anything during his collage and pro career, and does not belong in the Hall of fame; Sampson was basically done after his second season, was a weak rebounder and was more interested in playing 7'4 point guard and shooting jumpers than protecting the basket. These blocks that you're watching were ALL goaltends, and I saw his entire, truncated career, and I can tell you he was hyped, big time coming out Virginia. Once Hakeem became unstoppable, Sampson just got in the way and the Rockets traded him.
Ralph was a great talent, very good player for a minute, but there was something about him that was soft. I wished him and Bowie could have had a rematch of their high school meeting, may have ended up different.
Sampson was one of the most dominant players to ever play in College Basketball. Thanks to him, he made UVa a relevant and prestigious basketball team. You can say all you want, but in his short span in the NBA, he was great
Just looked at Sampson's first 3 years in the NBA he was destined for big things! The rookie of the Year, MVP of the NBA all star game and led he team to the 86 NBA finals with that winning shot against the Lakers in Western Conference finals.
If Ralph Sampson doesnt hurt his knees, and played 15 years, he's one of the best to ever play the game.
And the Bulls dynasty probably doesn't happen.
@@bigben0316 And the Lakers would have lost to Houston in the WCF and could have bested the Celtics in 87-88. Defeated Detroit, too. Not so sure about the Bulls. I would gave liked to see that happen.
I never knew this man until I was at my travel basketball game in Harrisonburg VA and I saw him, I got a picture and I have been looking how good he was, when I saw him he was old and like 7ft 4, he is a great man
A guard in a body of a center.
don't know if it was intentional, but your video ends abruptly like his career, brilliant
I know most people wouldn't think to make this comparison but the modern day player that reminds me most of Ralph Sampson is Kristaps Porzingis. KP is a better shooter and maybe not quite the athlete Sampson was in his prime but the idea of a 7'3"/7'4" skinny fluid high post big man began a generation before with Sampson.
zyxwut321 great comment frr
Both with knee injurys :(
Sampson was well ahead of his time
And Wemby.
I was shocked by his speed..that was insane for a guy his size😯
Bol bol can become todays ralph sampson, ralph is truly the most unique player of all time
This championship started with Sampson! He made Virginia bb relevant!
Being 7'4 your career is always in jeopardy with those knees. The dude was ahead of his time.
Ralph was best as a mobile forward, Dr. J like, on the wings. He was never a natural center. He is a terrific person. He's in the Nice Person Hall of Fame, certainly!
Well said
Brian Arbenz respect your comment but disagree
Damn he was gifted!!!
if it wasn't for his bad knees he I think he could have been like Kevin Durant Sampson had the moves like KD but his injuries at 7'4" some thing had to give he ran like a 5' 8" guard .......
His back was worse than his knees.
@@anthonymoody6711
His back injury led to his bad knees, because he attempted to return to playing too soon after a HORRIBLE fall on his back.
This guy was called to be one of the most dominants centers in NBA history but injuries made his career a short dream. It reminds me of Greg Oden but in this case if Sampson would have been healthy maybe Olajuwon would have never exploded and become "the dream". We will never know.
***** Hakeem was still better than Sampson offensively; and probably equal defensively. Even when they played together
i wouldn't compare greg oden to Ralph
sampson played forward
Sampson was settled into power forward as soon as Olajuwon came abroad. And Olajuwon put up big numbers as soon as he came abroad, and - more pertinently - Olajuwon was already the team's #1 option and the leading scorer by his second year, before Sampson even got injured.
Olajuwon was going to be the man in Houston, with or without Sampson.
You got it a bit reverse. Initially, Sampson was better offensively, but Olajuwon better defensively and rebounding-wise - as he was a bit raw early in his NBA career and relied almost exclusively on his physicality.
Sampson, bill walton, yao. Three superstar bigs hampered by injury.
maybe the most athletic big man to ever play the game
@@flappyturtle472 Of all the guys you mentioned, i'd say that only Wilt could match bis ahleticism or be considered more athletic than Sampson. But both were once in a lifetime talents, look at the way he moves at that height. He's multiple inches taller than Giannis and their movement in terms of speed and body control looks very similar.
@@flappyturtle472 i may have gotten carried away but this guy is 7'4"!!!!! russel was like 6'10" wilt is more of course but i have to disagree with the other examples
He was dripling like a guard,shooting like a small forward,running like a atleth and he was 2.23 !! He was so unlucky Man bcs of his knee😔
He was best of the best
Damn.. when the homie asked Sampson for some dab love, he smacked the fuck out of the nigga's hand, you can obviously see the dude reacting in pain
1:15
he came to our school
At 7’4” with ball handles of a 6-foot point guard.
Wow this guy was amazing!!!
his bio saying he was already 6'7 in 9th grade 😨😨😨 sheesh
For a 7-footer Sampson had mad handles
The music in this video is so sad, I guess it's because it's sad his career ended so quickly. The 1986 Rockets tore through the Champion Lakers, so it's fitting that the 1986 Celtics who beat the Rockets are considered one of the great teams of all time, and Bird's best team.
Used to ❤ Ralph sampson, skyhook, had had bad knee problems both of them
He definitely had game! Can you imagine if he came out early and joined the Lakers in 82 (the deal L.A. was trying to pull off)!?
@Erik Collins might have worked, but Worthy was a better fit. Might have happed too if Sam Bowie didn't get injured and forced Ralph's hand.
So beautiful to watch ..... so sad for his career
Sadly, Ralph was 30 years ahead of his time. I can't help but think he would have lasted way longer in today's games without battling Jabbar, Gilmore, Dawkins, Cartwright, Parrish and the other big bruising centers. He had the speed and athleticism to compete with any of the bigs in today's game.
Cant believe im gonna go to the same high school as this man
AWESOME!
If Pippen was 7'4" he'd be Sampson. Sampson was a Small Forward in a Center's body.
I saw fellow draftees Sidney Green Clyde Drexler Darrell Walker Randy Wittman Roy Hinson Rodney McCray and Antoine Carr sitting alongside Sampson in the crowd
Awesome...Yep...Yep...One Love Fam...
Almost did more in 6 healthy seasons than most people done in their 15-plus season careers..
He was too pretty fast
Faced some of the greatest teams ever in the NBA and more than held his own. Hated to see him let that punk Sichting or whatever his name was for the Celtics bait him into that fight in Game 5 of the '86 Finals. I was rooting for the Rockets so hard that series.
What could've been a great dynasty in Houston. It's sad that injuries derailed his career in Houston. Olajuwon and Sampson would have been champions for years to come.
Ballin like Ralph Sampson :
Riff
lol i had to look em up too
more athletic than kareem, needed bal more, and higher point per shot than hakeem
Lew Alcindor/Kareem was just as athletic when he was young.
Sampson, for his time, was THE prototype center. He could dribble like a guard, run the floor and an inside / outside offensive/ defensive threat. He was ahead of his time but sadly his career was cut short. If only….
if anyone was ever going to touch the top of the backboard
before durant there was sampson
You mean before Kristaps
Most gifted super-giant ever (7'4+). Too bad his body didn't hold up.
So wait... the rockets had the original Twin Towers? Just found an ole Sports Illustrated, highlighting this man on the front cover, from 1979... ALSO, I am 90% SURE, that Jack Nicholson was at that game when he beat the Lakers!!!! Look at 03:08 and you can see a guy, looking just like Jack!!!!! WOW.
picture him playing in 2018
I remember Al McQuire, who used to commentate on NCAA basketball games for NBC, once said that had Sampson been 6'4 rather than 7'4, he'd still be an all-American; his skills and talent make him that. And he was right. But it's a shame that injuries cut his career short. Had he stayed healthy, he probably would have accomplished more than MJ during his pro career.
Don't know about that. But he would still be a tremendous player, just a bit overrated.
He would have been a perfect fit on the Lakers to take over Kareem after he retired.
My great uncle
My cousin
My cousin
Gabe Sampson Bullshit.
beez1219 Bullshit.
F3RG Clan Bullshit.
IDC what others think. Ralph deserved to go into the HOF. If he never injured his knees, Ralph would have revolutionized the power ford and center positions, and the game itself.
He could score, run the break off a block, a good rebounder blocked, pass the ball. His weakness was his temper and his knees. He could shoot the hook from midrange with consistency, play the low post with great quickness, leap, fend off a defender and his the open jumper. The Rockets did Ralph dirty. He could have come off of the bench. Snd being 7.3 or 7.4. Ralph was hard to stop. He also had a desire to WN. Too bad that he couldn't have played 6th mam with the Celtics. Ralph could have easily scored 30000 plus points. You won't be forgotten by your fans, Ralph. Hakeem might have been better in some ways. But Ralph was awesome before his knees forced him into retirement.
Spitta brought me here. #jetlife
1:25 anyone else peep Ralph making a skyhook on Kareem lmao
"Ralph making a skyhook on Kareem lmao" Poetic justice, Kareem now knows how the rest of the world feels.
if u look closely larry johnson was in the 1983 draft lol
hopefully victor wembanyama could be the 2.0 💯🙌🏾🔥
He is my cousin
He's my cousin. Are you from Harrisonburg
My dad is and he is his cousin his mom is Sara
Oh OK. I'm not from there. Been there a lot though. Names Joe Beasley. I'm from pa. Are you related on his mom or dads side?
F3RG Clan Bullshit.
beez1219 Bullshit.
Could you imagine if he played his entire career with Magic Johnson and stayed healthy? He's like James Worthy +7 inches.
The original Giannis...if only his knees held up
I miss the days when most players dunked the ball and got back on defense instead of acting like it's the first time it's ever been done. When you are 6'4" or bigger, it's not exactly one of the greatest accomplishments ever achieved by mankind.
"When you are 6'4" or bigger, it's not exactly one of the greatest accomplishments ever achieved by mankind." I feel better about the few dunks I have done, especially the barefoot one without a running start.
:-)
I don't think anyone else in NBA history would have both the height and the quickness to pull off the dunk at 2:16. He didn't even have time to gather himself or really jump after picking up the ball.
Ralph Sampson was nowhere as athletic as the young, pre-weight lifting Wilt Chamberlain - who was actually a world class high jumper and triple jumper in college. Likewise, Bill Russell was a world class high jumper.
That was an ungodly move no doubt, but I have seen Giannis antetenkounpo do that
Dikembe Mutombo please.
picture him playing power forward in 2019
giannis is kind of his today lookalike, he moves and dunks exactly like sampson
They say they've never seen anything like Victor Wembanyama...they have no sense of history...
That brotha looked like snoop kinda 🤣
Un 2,24 cm che si muoveva ed aveva l'agilità di una persona alta 1,80 cm..e con dei "fondamentali" più che ottimi..mai rivista in vita mia una cosa così
Sampson never liked posting up on offense.
Buck Williams at Maryland knew how to handle Sampson, control the floor, not the vertical.
I hope he's had an echocardiogram.
He made Hakeem look small
Hakeem is 6’10” but listed at 7’0”. Sampson is a true 7-footer (7’4”)
He was an 🦄
excellent player but injuries have ruined his career
He still cracked the Hall of Fame
@@cooper482011 he was fast player and his shoot 1986 against lakers
Would of been the 🐐 but bad knees.
Too bad he can’t get the same consideration as Walton. You know the what if factor or when he was healthy scenario.
“Let’s put a sad song on a highlight video that’d be a great idea”
He looks very much like Wilt Chamberlain. Wilt was more athletic, but Ralph had better handles.
He doesn't belong in the hall of fame. Weak career numbers.
He only had three good years. Not great years, good years. After that the injuries began and his career went downhill. Extremely weak career numbers for a hall of famer.
That's because you deviated away from the topic by comparing Ralph Sampson to Earl Lloyd who also has weak career numbers but holds the distinction of being the first black player to play in an NBA game. The two eras and circumstances are drastically different. Ralph Sampson didn't have a great career. Not even close. Feel free to come back with a real argument that pertains to Ralph Sampson and why you think his disappointing career warrants enshrinement in the hof.
this shit just got ignorant lol
He was 4 times All Star and he averaged 20-11 his first 3 seasons. He wasn't bad at all.
Alfredo Di Stéfano Laulhé - Three good years doesn't make you great. His overall career is regarded as a disappointment.
If not for so many injuries and Houston replacing Sampson with Olajuwon at center, Sampson would have been the greatest player of all time.
First of all, Olajuwon was center and Sampson power forward on that team before Sampson even got hurt. The Houston staff - correctly - determined that Olajuwon's physical traits and skills were better-suited for the NBA pivot. As for Sampson being the greatest "of all time," come on; I've seen Sampson from his UVA days, and that isn't happening before the Second Coming. Sampson was great, and - at least in college - dominant; but he was not THAT great.
+John Locke Second of all...I stand behind my comment. I don't really care if you agree or disagree. You're now dismissed and ignored, rookie.
Sampson was matched up against Kareem/Parish on BOTH ends for the majority of the '86 postseason. He basically played center against elite competition.
Sampson was a 20-10 guy, I don't think he could ever average 30-15 in one season, even after the injuries, he still kept averaging 11 rebs per game even in his worst years, althoug he decreased his scoring numbers. A 20-10 guy is an excellent basketball player. And everybody in the NBA wants a guy who averages 11 rebs per game, and he was also a great shot blocker.
In other words, he was spectacular to watch, but he was not as good as Akeem was.
But it 's true that his career was a dissapointment, he would be all star every season, if he had stayed healthy.
D HM well you're jusr a jack ass then. YOU'RE DISMISSED
One of the most overrated players that NEVER won anything during his collage and pro career, and does not belong in the Hall of fame; Sampson was basically done after his second season, was a weak rebounder and was more interested in playing 7'4 point guard and shooting jumpers than protecting the basket. These blocks that you're watching were ALL goaltends, and I saw his entire, truncated career, and I can tell you he was hyped, big time coming out Virginia. Once Hakeem became unstoppable, Sampson just got in the way and the Rockets traded him.
Ralph was a great talent, very good player for a minute, but there was something about him that was soft. I wished him and Bowie could have had a rematch of their high school meeting, may have ended up different.
Sampson was one of the most dominant players to ever play in College Basketball. Thanks to him, he made UVa a relevant and prestigious basketball team. You can say all you want, but in his short span in the NBA, he was great
Very, Very Good, not great.
Just looked at Sampson's first 3 years in the NBA he was destined for big things! The rookie of the Year, MVP of the NBA all star game and led he team to the 86 NBA finals with that winning shot against the Lakers in Western Conference finals.
idiot
imagien if rrockets didnt let guards shoot wooo wee