The last few seconds of the loss to N.C. State in Sampson's final game is forever ingrained in my mind. I cried. Can't believe that was 41 years ago!! I was 11 years old. We lost 63-62 and got knocked out of the tournament.
Rookie of the year his first year, All star mvp in his second, and hit the game winning shot to eliminate the Lakers that put Houston in the NBA finals against Boston in his third year, Sampson was on his way to a great NBA career before injuries took it's toll on his body, but still managed to play ten years in the NBA!
He truly was one of a kind... Never seen a a guy this tall move that way...with that kinda soft touch...passing abilities...could put it on the deck...I mean he just was truly something else...
@@MajorImpact Yea exactly he really had some guard skills for his height...he was more complete All-Around than Wembanyama...I agree yes...he could get it done on the outside n the inside...very true!!!
If you study his NBA numbers you will see that the Rockets drafting and signing another BIG, The Dream, the Summer after Ralph Sampson’s rookie year had a devastating impact on his career. He began the slow descent. No knock on Hakeem: go check out the numbers. Things could’ve turned out much differently.
drafting Hakeem moved Ralph to the PF position... which, even with all his natural talent, he wasn't ...Ralph was a center... going from the low post and having the offense run thru him from there is a lot different than suddenly being switched to the high post and becoming some kind of facilitator...his scoring went down and well as his rebounding.... going from guarding the low block to chasing around forwards is a whole different animal
@@troy7161 Very poor understanding of this piece of NBA History. Ralph has a podcast and talks about his time with Hakeem alot and has no qualms with it. I mean with that selection the two of them took the team to the WCF way before Jordan got the Bulls that far. Two issues were really at play with Ralph's time in Houston. 1. the team had a four year plan before they let Ralph and his team really cut loose and play for real. Ralph's first year, he shared time with an older Elvin Hayes. The Rockets tanked that season because 1. It was a way to get another good draft pick and 2. Elvin Hayes was retiring and needed a certain amount of minutes to get a financial bonus in his last year. After drafting Hakeem their focus was on developing both talents over the next two years and signing small pieces to accompany them (this never quite came together). Only in about year 3 or 4 were Ralph and Hakeem let loose and as I said they made the WCF and beat the Lakers. I think this was like 86. People forget and Ralph has said this openly, in his era, and in the Rockets system specifically, about 90 percent of the offensive possessions were coach called plays. The coach didn't relent a bit on this until the 86 season. Which brings me to 2. The issue with the Rockets wasn't Ralph moving to PF, in fact the idea that he "slowed down" is absurd. When they added Hakeem their play styles were so different that this team was definitely championship worthy. Hakeem was a back to the basket center and Ralph was always a superior open floor player despite his height. HOWVER, the biggest problem with this team is they literally had no PG. They were in dire trouble in this position throughout the eighties. Unfortunately, they rectified this situation by using Ralph as high trade value and aquring skilled guards. This obviously was a lose lose, as Ralph would go on to hurt his knees and play be relegated to horrrible franchises and the Rockets really lost their post-season competitiveness for almost half a decade before Hakeem got back to back titles after Jordan left for baseball. Those are the facts.
Also think this history is important lest we let it repeat itself. OKC is in a similar position this year, with a reasonably excuse to tank and pick up a second 7 footer. However as the Twin Towers showed us so many years earlier. You simply can't exchange quality guards for versatile big men. The Rockets had some unfortunate luck, with their backcourt being riddles with suspensions and drug problems. I hope if OKC makes similar moves with their draft picks, the supplement with a reliable backcourt. I believe the Rockets tried to save themselves with running Rodney McCray as a point forward. It got them past the lakers but when they faced a much more stacked Celtics team, they wavered. Anyways all this is to say don't put Ralph's lower numbers on him. This team would have been super scary and Hakeem and Ralph woulda ate plenty had they just had even a solid mid-tier point guard.
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Hard to explain how ahead of his time Sampson was. Also, *love* the Petestrumental beat💪🏻
No cap he was definitely 40 years ahead of his time 🗣every big man is a lil Ralph today
NCAA Ralph Sampson was a beast on the court.
The last few seconds of the loss to N.C. State in Sampson's final game is forever ingrained in my mind. I cried. Can't believe that was 41 years ago!! I was 11 years old. We lost 63-62 and got knocked out of the tournament.
Yes and Ralph made the tip in that would've won the game, but it was after the buzzer went off.
Rookie of the year his first year, All star mvp in his second, and hit the game winning shot to eliminate the Lakers that put Houston in the NBA finals against Boston in his third year, Sampson was on his way to a great NBA career before injuries took it's toll on his body, but still managed to play ten years in the NBA!
Totally forgot about this player....I remember him back during College...HE was good...
Quite possibly the best college basketball player of all time. National Player of the year 3 times!
Only players better was Alcindor and Walton
@James Pryor Ralph was a beast, but lucky Sam Bowie got injured and wasn't around the next 2 years.
@@elbowgang9715 You can put Oscar Robertson & Pistol in the conversation with an honorable mention to Christian Laettner who went to 4 Final Fours
Alcindor for sure was the best college basketball player of all time.
@@kidjiujitsuAll material things considered, he's the GOAT.
He truly was one of a kind...
Never seen a a guy this tall move that way...with that kinda soft touch...passing abilities...could put it on the deck...I mean he just was truly something else...
@@MajorImpact Yea exactly he really had some guard skills for his height...he was more complete All-Around than Wembanyama...I agree yes...he could get it done on the outside n the inside...very true!!!
Sampson was a whole Movie out there on the court
Ralph was a freak 9f nature 7'4 can run the floor ,fill the lanes and destroy u but the injuries robbed him of greatness at the pro level
Not a true 7'4". Was a very good player regardless.
hopefully victor wembanyama could be the 2.0 💯🙌🏾🔥
Nice Pete Rock beat!!!
Many highlights, NO ACC tourney titles, No Ncaa Titles, One final four when he was a Freshman
He was a sophomore when they went to the final four.
College basketball took him for granted. A shame.
Maybe should have not went to Virginia either, probably could have won it elsewhere.
Today is Wemby…
Victor wembanyama prototype
If you study his NBA numbers you will see that the Rockets drafting and signing another BIG, The Dream, the Summer after Ralph Sampson’s rookie year had a devastating impact on his career. He began the slow descent. No knock on Hakeem: go check out the numbers. Things could’ve turned out much differently.
drafting Hakeem moved Ralph to the PF position... which, even with all his natural talent, he wasn't ...Ralph was a center... going from the low post and having the offense run thru him from there is a lot different than suddenly being switched to the high post and becoming some kind of facilitator...his scoring went down and well as his rebounding.... going from guarding the low block to chasing around forwards is a whole different animal
They never should have drafted Hakeem
@@MrS4151 I’m sure they don’t regret it
@@troy7161 Very poor understanding of this piece of NBA History. Ralph has a podcast and talks about his time with Hakeem alot and has no qualms with it. I mean with that selection the two of them took the team to the WCF way before Jordan got the Bulls that far. Two issues were really at play with Ralph's time in Houston. 1. the team had a four year plan before they let Ralph and his team really cut loose and play for real. Ralph's first year, he shared time with an older Elvin Hayes. The Rockets tanked that season because 1. It was a way to get another good draft pick and 2. Elvin Hayes was retiring and needed a certain amount of minutes to get a financial bonus in his last year. After drafting Hakeem their focus was on developing both talents over the next two years and signing small pieces to accompany them (this never quite came together). Only in about year 3 or 4 were Ralph and Hakeem let loose and as I said they made the WCF and beat the Lakers. I think this was like 86. People forget and Ralph has said this openly, in his era, and in the Rockets system specifically, about 90 percent of the offensive possessions were coach called plays. The coach didn't relent a bit on this until the 86 season. Which brings me to 2. The issue with the Rockets wasn't Ralph moving to PF, in fact the idea that he "slowed down" is absurd. When they added Hakeem their play styles were so different that this team was definitely championship worthy. Hakeem was a back to the basket center and Ralph was always a superior open floor player despite his height. HOWVER, the biggest problem with this team is they literally had no PG. They were in dire trouble in this position throughout the eighties. Unfortunately, they rectified this situation by using Ralph as high trade value and aquring skilled guards. This obviously was a lose lose, as Ralph would go on to hurt his knees and play be relegated to horrrible franchises and the Rockets really lost their post-season competitiveness for almost half a decade before Hakeem got back to back titles after Jordan left for baseball. Those are the facts.
Also think this history is important lest we let it repeat itself. OKC is in a similar position this year, with a reasonably excuse to tank and pick up a second 7 footer. However as the Twin Towers showed us so many years earlier. You simply can't exchange quality guards for versatile big men. The Rockets had some unfortunate luck, with their backcourt being riddles with suspensions and drug problems. I hope if OKC makes similar moves with their draft picks, the supplement with a reliable backcourt. I believe the Rockets tried to save themselves with running Rodney McCray as a point forward. It got them past the lakers but when they faced a much more stacked Celtics team, they wavered. Anyways all this is to say don't put Ralph's lower numbers on him. This team would have been super scary and Hakeem and Ralph woulda ate plenty had they just had even a solid mid-tier point guard.
……and ain’t win shit 🤦🏽♂️