Ralph Sampson facts for kids

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Ralph Sampson

Sampson in 2024
Personal information
Born	(1960-07-07) July 7, 1960 (age 64) Harrisonburg, Virginia, U.S.
High school	Harrisonburg (Harrisonburg, Virginia)
Listed height	7 ft 4 in (2.24 m)
Listed weight	228 lb (103 kg)
Career information
College	Virginia (1979–1983)
NBA Draft	1983 / Round: 1 / Pick: 1st overall
Selected by the Houston Rockets
Pro career	1983–1995
Career history
As player:
1983–1987	Houston Rockets
1987–1989	Golden State Warriors
1989–1991	Sacramento Kings
1991–1992	Washington Bullets
1992	Unicaja Ronda
1994–1995	Rockford Lightning
As coach:
1992–1993	James Madison (assistant)
1999–2000	Richmond Rhythm
2012–2013	Phoenix Suns (assistant)
Career highlights and awards
4× NBA All-Star (1984–1987) NBA All-Star Game MVP (1985) All-NBA Second Team (1985) NBA Rookie of the Year (1984) NBA All-Rookie Team (1984) 3× National college player of the year (1981–1983) 3× Consensus first-team All-American (1981–1983) 3× ACC Player of the Year (1981–1983) 3× First-team All-ACC (1981–1983) ACC Rookie of the Year (1980) No. 50 retired by Virginia Cavaliers First-team Parade All-American (1979)
Career NBA statistics
Points	7,039 (15.4 ppg)
Rebounds	4,011 (8.8 rpg)
Blocks	752 (1.6 bpg)
Medals Representing  United States Men's basketball Pan American Games Gold 1979 San Juan Team competition

Ralph Lee Sampson Jr. (born July 7, 1960) is a famous American former professional basketball player. He is a member of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, which means he's one of the best players ever.

Sampson was an amazing player, standing at 7 feet 4 inches tall! He was named the best college player in the country three times. In 1983, he was the very first player picked in the 1983 NBA draft to join the National Basketball Association (NBA).

He was named the NBA Rookie of the Year. For his first three seasons with the Houston Rockets, he averaged over 20 points and 10 rebounds per game. Sadly, injuries started to affect his career. After 12 seasons playing basketball, he retired in 1995. He was a four-time NBA All-Star and even won the NBA All-Star Game Most Valuable Player (MVP) award in 1985.

Early Life and High School Basketball

Ralph Sampson was born in Harrisonburg, Virginia. He was very tall from a young age. By ninth grade, he was already 6 feet 7 inches tall! In high school, he grew to be 7 feet 1 inch.

He played for Harrisonburg High. In his senior year, he averaged almost 30 points, 19 rebounds, and 7 blocked shots per game. He helped his team win state championships in 1978 and 1979.

College Career at Virginia

Sampson was one of the most wanted college basketball players of his time. He was featured on the cover of Sports Illustrated magazine six times in less than four years!

He played as a center for the University of Virginia. He led his team to win the NIT title in 1980. They also reached the NCAA Final Four in 1981 and the NCAA Elite Eight in 1983. He won the Naismith Award three times as the best college player in the nation. Only one other player, Bill Walton, had done that before him.

Sampson thought about leaving college early for the 1982 NBA draft. But he decided to stay in school for his senior year.

Professional Basketball Career

Ralph Sampson was expected to change how the center position was played in the NBA. This was because of his height and how easily he moved.

Houston Rockets: A Rising Star

The Houston Rockets chose Sampson as the first overall pick in the 1983 NBA draft. In his first year, he averaged 21.0 points and 11.1 rebounds. He also played in the NBA All-Star Game and won the NBA Rookie of the Year Award.

In 1984, the Rockets picked another tall center, Hakeem Olajuwon. Many people wondered if two 7-footers, nicknamed the "Twin Towers," could play well together. Sampson moved to play as a power forward, a different position for him. Many thought this combination could be very powerful.

In the 1984–85 season, the Rockets got much better, winning 48 games. Sampson had his best season, averaging 22.1 points and 10.4 rebounds. He and Olajuwon both played in the 1985 NBA All-Star Game. Sampson was even named the game's MVP!

The next season, Houston won their division with 51 wins. Sampson had a scary moment in March 1986 when he fell badly and hurt his back. He missed a few games. In the playoffs, the Rockets made it to the NBA Finals. They faced the Boston Celtics, a very strong team.

In Game 5 of the Western Conference Finals, Sampson made a famous shot. With only one second left, he shot a twisting jumper that went in at the buzzer. This gave the Rockets a win and helped them beat the defending champion Los Angeles Lakers.

In the NBA Finals, the Rockets lost to the Celtics in six games. Sampson faced tough competition from Celtics stars like Larry Bird and Kevin McHale. During one game, Sampson got into a small argument with a Celtics player and was ejected. Even so, the Rockets showed great promise for the future.

In 1987, Sampson signed a big contract with the Rockets. However, he played in only 43 games that year because of a serious knee injury. He had surgery and tried to come back quickly, which he later regretted. The Rockets made it to the Conference Semifinals but lost.

Sampson's knee problems continued. In December 1987, he was traded to the Golden State Warriors.

Golden State Warriors: Battling Injuries

The Golden State Warriors hoped Sampson would be a key player for them. He played in 29 games for the Warriors, averaging 15.4 points and 10 rebounds. But his left knee continued to bother him.

The next year, he played in 61 games but averaged fewer points. The Warriors made the playoffs, but Sampson played only a few minutes. This was his last time playing in the NBA playoffs. In September 1989, he was traded to the Sacramento Kings.

Sacramento Kings and Later Teams

Sampson's injury problems continued with the Sacramento Kings. He played only 51 games over two seasons, with lower scoring averages.

After being released by the Kings, Sampson played 10 games for the Washington Bullets in 1991–92. He also played eight games for a Spanish team called Unicaja Ronda in 1992.

His last professional team was the Rockford Lightning in the Continental Basketball Association during the 1994–95 season. He retired from basketball after that. In total, he played 456 games in nine NBA seasons.

Coaching Career

After his playing career, Sampson became a coach. In 1992–93, he was an assistant coach at James Madison University. He also coached a minor league team called the Richmond Rhythm.

In 2012, Sampson joined the Phoenix Suns' player development staff. He helped players improve their skills. He left that role in 2013.

Legacy and Honors

Ralph Sampson has received many honors for his basketball career.

• In 1996, he was added to the Virginia Sports Hall of Fame.
• In 2002, he was named one of the 50 greatest players in Atlantic Coast Conference history.
• In 2011, Sampson was inducted into the National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame.
• In 2012, the Houston Rockets honored him as a member of their 1980s Decade Team.
• On April 2, 2012, Sampson was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. This is one of the highest honors in basketball.

Personal Life

Ralph Sampson has children, and some of them have also played basketball. His oldest son, Ralph III, played college basketball for Minnesota. His younger son, Robert, played for East Carolina University and Georgia Tech. He also has two daughters, Rachel and Anna.

Sampson has said that he tried to come back too quickly from his knee surgeries. He tries not to think about what his career could have been like without those injuries.

Awards

• Naismith College Player of the Year (1981–1983)
• USBWA College Player of the Year (1981–1983)
• Adolph Rupp Trophy (1981–1983)
• Associated Press Player of the Year (1981–1983)
• UPI Player of the Year (1981–1983)
• John R. Wooden Award (1982–1983)
• NABC Player of the Year (1982–1983)
• Golden Plate Award of the American Academy of Achievement presented by Awards Council member Herschel Walker (1982)
• Sporting News Player of the Year (1983)
• Co-Helms Foundation College Basketball Player of the Year (1982)
• NBA Rookie of the Year (1984)
• NBA All-Rookie Team (1984)
• NBA All-Star Game MVP (1985)
• NBA All-Star (1984–1987)
• All-NBA Second Team selection (1985)
• National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame inductee (2011)
• Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame inductee (2012)

Career Statistics

NBA

Regular Season Stats

Playoff Stats

College Stats

See also

• List of NBA single-game blocks leaders
• List of tallest players in NBA history
• List of NCAA Division I men's basketball career rebounding leaders
• List of NCAA Division I men's basketball players with 2000 points and 1000 rebounds