Ralph Sampson: College and NBA Highlights 

Ralph Sampson was the TRUTH prior to injury getting the better of him. This guy was so ahead of his time. I swear...

Crazy to have a 7'4 power forward and a 6'11 center, and both quick enough to defend the smalls.

Ralph was my hero as I played basketball growing up in a small town. I remember watching an interview he did one time saying that he used to love to play Space Invaders! I thought that was the coolest thing ever! I used to cut out newspaper articles and any story I could find while he played for Virginia. My parents used to watch me play YMCA ball as a kid and they used to yell out "GO RALPH" which made me super happy! Of course I always had to be #50 and had my big wristbands on each arm. My dream is to be able to meet him someday and to thank him for being my hero and all that he has done for the game of basketball and my life as a young boy watching from afar! GO RALPH!!!!

This view count is very disappointing, such a great player pre-injury. Dominated Kareem.

I’m still searching for this one monster dunk he had against golden state in 1987. He backed his way into the paint, faked left then turned and slammed the ball using his right hand while palming the ball as if he was waving hello to the crowd as he dunked. I would love to see that play again on RU-vid but still haven’t found.

He was a supreme talent with freakish size. He had problems with consistency early in his career, and during the time he could have been finding that to take the next step, he’s knees gave out on him. After he had knee surgery, he ran up and down the court like an old man, and never got to become the superstar he likely would have been

7-4 shooting like that? He had the turnaround and the skyhook down to a science!

after seeing Victor Wenbanyama....the same height 7'4, fluidity and striking facial resemblance, Ralph has some explaining to do, what he did in France 18 yr ago...

I absolutely loved watching Ralph play here in Houston.....if he had not gotten hurt......

I agree he did play like a Guard/Foward & It worked for Him & He just never wanted to be Held to One Position in Which his game Versatility gave Akeem more Room & Freedom..No problem Xavier & Thanks for the Upload*

Anybody that says they never seen a Big man at 7"4 play like the 18 yr old from France Gyma. They never seen Ralph Sampson in his prime.

Wemby could be the next coming of Ralph Sampson, 35 years later. I just hope his career last longer than Sampson. He was an incredible talent that never panned out because of injuries. When he was healthy, he was something else.

Kareem on Kareem! Nobody ever shot the skyhook over Kareem. That’s like Starks going baseline on Jordan. It just doesn’t happen.

I watch these types of videos all the time. Why is the first im seeing this? Great video sir. Thank you so much for making it. I barely remember that shot against the Lakers but I remember it. I thought I knew was much about the NBA from the mid 80s on but Im here to admit I was wrong. Your video showed me what ive bee missing. These Sampson highlights are unreal. If someone was to say to me that he was ever better than Hakeem id have laughed until now. In the process of reading up to learn more about him. Thanks again. Im now subscribed so I look forward to the rest of your stuff.

Really enjoyed the video. Sampson has always been an interesting player for me. He was a terrific athlete with amazing coordination for his height and a graceful, fluid player. He's one of the great "what if" stories in basketball history. That being said, Sampson's best seasons really were his college years, despite the lack of post-season success in the NCAA. He never seemed to quite figure out how to play in the NBA despite his obvious talent. I'm not sure he'd be much better today, to be honest. Although he could probably function as a stretch five, he really was at his most effective near the basket. Ralph could hit pretty consistently from 15-20 feet out if you left him open, but down low he was damn near unstoppable with his height, touch, and leaping ability. That's why he and Bill Fitch argued all the time. Fitch wanted him on the block where he was most effective, while Ralph seemed to want to play in the backcourt, despite the fact that he wasn't good at taking care of the ball. He led the entire league in turnovers in 84-85 and was in the top five two other times. Ralph really didn't have three point range so it's hard to see him as a stretch four although maybe he could have developed it if he tried. His best NBA season was his first. After Hakeem Olajuwon arrived the next year, he seemed to regress, even before the injuries started. You never knew which Sampson would show up, especially in the playoffs. By example, during the 86 finals against Boston, he had games of 24 and 25 points, but also 8 and even 2 (yes, two points in 27 minutes in game one). He had 22 rebounds in game 3, but less than ten in four of the other five games. So Ralph is one of the great enigmas in the history of the game. His amazing combination of height, grace, leaping ability, and all around skill is obvious from the highlights, but there's always a "yeah, but" with him, even before he got hurt. His skill set was so unique he just couldn't find a way to fit and then the legs went and he was done. And that's too bad.

That's really good video. Thanks a lot! I have a question. Where did you find Rockets vs Spurs game? I'd love to see Gilmore vs Sampson matchup. Youth and athleticism against strength and productivity.

All the people who think Wemby is 1 of 1 never saw Ralph

Underrated talent!!! He was out of this world!!! Waouw!!! 7'5!!!!

Virginia was 112-23 during Sampson’s four years there, for an 83% winning percentage, nothing like the 96% claimed in the video.

Extraordinario jugador, muy rápido y coordinado para su estatura, muy técnico gran saltabilidad, tenía un juego espectacular, gracias por el vídeo

What an amazing player

Appreciate the video from an old school Houston Rocket fan

Look at how he moves he is so quick for his height and is able to shoot from the mid range and play with physicality

If not for injuries, Sampson could've been the greatest player ever. I've seen him catch alley oop passes, while at Virginia, from over top of the backboard and slam it on the way down. No one else has ever did that. No one.

At 7'4!!!

dotato tra l'altro di mani educatissime. un talento assoluto.

Dammit, I'm still pissed about Sampson's last second shot against the Lakers in 86!

Amazing player who came in to the NBA in the middle of the Laker-Celtics dynasties. Let that punk Sichting bait him into a fight in Game 5 of the Finals in '86. If not for that and the injuries, he could have won some titles with Hakeem.

Magic Johnson stays at Michigan State as a junior, Ralph Sampson is a Spartan. And they don't lose a game in college.

Wenbanyama of 80's

Nice video. I like Sampson. Got to meet him when he played for Sacramento .

He was special.

Most agile guy over 7 foot ever

I have to say in which is Long Overdue that Ralph Sampson is for Sure the Most Athletic Center with Incredible Agility more than any Basketball Player College or Pro Ever, Centers with This Height did not do the things that Ralph Did, Only Akeem can be compared to Ralph's Domination no matter the Rank or Stage, Ralph is in the Top Three Centers in my Opinion with Akeem, Wilt, & Ralph, You have not been forgotten my Brother, God Bless*

Sampson, when Hakeem was in the game was not center, but power forward and dominated.

Without injury wemby could become what Sampson was supposed to be Both 7'4, can shoot and handle the ball +wemby is lucky to play in an era where you don't post up that much

He would've killed it in today's NBA. He was great in the 80's too, until his knee injuries, but the modern finesse game with stretch-5's is pretty perfect for him.

Unstoppable if he never got injured and about 30 pounds heavier

My all-time starting five for college at C would be either Sampson or Kareem.

Original thin do it all 7'4", nice to see wembanyama pick up the torch. Different game and twist to the wrist but identical stats, where they score and when

Ralph Sampson had quick feet and great Hops and touch. Could run like a deer. Look how the game has changed. Used to pack the paint, get a three point play the hard way. I miss the days of Akeem, Patrick, Bowie, and Big Ralph.

Ralph was just too much of a Complete Player, He could Shoot from anywhere & He could Jump out the Gym, Sampson was No Hype, But Was the Real Deal in almost every Area & Spectrum of the Game, I Honestly saw No One Contain Him Ever, Just as Hakeem was Unstoppable, So Ralph Sampson was Spectacular just as Michael Jordan & Hakeem were, He is just Bar None in the Top 3 Greatest Players of All Time Period*

He reminds me of kg for some reason. Both are athletic big man who are versatile. They also both love to shoot jumper from the post.

Wembenyama gonna be the 2.0 version

Wow. The Original Cheat Code. Very underrated player - by me, so i did my homework. He had quite a repertoire, exceptionally for a 7 feet 4 inch giant. Turnaround, fade away, sky hook you name it. It seems like he is so tall he actually shoots and dunks down the basket.

Damn; in college, Sampson was posterizing *the best teams of that era.*

Kevin Garnett career mirrored Ralph Sampson. Tall lanky,can post you up.Can shoot the mid range shot and was a good shot blocker.

They ask were there ever was a 7 foot 4 wemby back in the day the answer is yes ... Ralph Sampson....

The OG Wemby😊

When they say today's players are more skilled its laughable

The Victor Wembanyama prototype.

Ralph was ahead of his time. Had he's played today he would have served in the same capacity as a Dirk Nowitski. He could have played the 3 which was his true position.

Sometimes I think Sampson watched too much video of Wally Walker. He even had a similar shooting style. He should have been playing around the basket on offense, not jacking up 3-pointers!

1:58 the guy says "LeBron James." How did he know? 😅😃

don't forget he also was 1 of the 9 players in the 1st NBA Dunk Contest

yip i came here after watching wemby highlights. i'm not convinced yet on wemby and watching this two things come to mind in the negative column. he's not skilled enough to play forward, and he will get muscled at center. on the positive side he wouldwork in select twin towers scenarios ala sampson/olajuwon or duncan/robinson.

Did he Score 35 points for game right? J (Kareem)

The pre-Wembanyama.

Ralph was a tremendous talent, but I would've have loved to see him match up against Sam Bowie at the colliegate level. He wouldn't have his way with him like he did at the prep level.

Did anthony davis copy his anthony davisnplaying style?

maybe the twin tower situation hurt ralph. i think he'd be better if he could focus as a pure center albeit a versatile mobile one.

The Original TWIN TOWERS was also the Original able to guard 5 positions, was also the Original do it all Big men ---pass, defend and even bring the ball like a Point center it's like having Jokic and Wembanyama on the same team the 86 ROCKETS ,what could have been if not for injuries. 2 on 2, I would take a healthy Olajuwon and Sampson over Jordan and Pippen.

It’s always that guy who just wants as way ahead of his time and gets injured. Put Grant Hill and Penny in there too

MAN, how many points did he hang on the Celtics in that game???

peccato per l'infortunio, avrebbe spaccato il campionato, per quei tempi era un fuoriserie assoluto. Meritava una carriera più brillante.

The CRAZY thing about Big Ralph... when he and Olajuwon were on the floor together, he mostly played the Power Forward position.

You really should include some of his defensive play.

Victor wembanyama before Victor wembanyama

Man if Ralph had went to the Lakers done deal;

And also Javier you say he could have been Historically Good but He was Historically good because he made the Hall of Fame so I don't understand you saying that or that the Level of Rank I gave Him is too Far Fetched, So since you unloaded this Great NBA Player & You see & Hear almost Every Professional Commutator from High School, College & the Pros give him the High Praise that He deserves then what can you Question in Any Area or Category Pertaining to Ralph Sampson's Obvious Superb play & Domination? And yes we all are Entitled to our Own Opinion True, But for Any true Basketball I.Q. there is no Question from what has been Televised about Ralph Sampson what He did Against whom He did It, So I hear you Javier*

It's reasonable to argue that in his prime Ralph Sampson was the greatest basketball player ever.

sadly..injury.,,but hall of fame

Victor

But I don't believe it too far fetched to Rank him Top Three because You tell Me who Contained Him or could contain Him even Now in Today's Game, I don't see Who that would Be*

Is this stickman basketball?

Sampson never recovered from.the 86 finals

Injuries my guy

Correction....The Rockets did NOT win the finals. They lost to the Celtics.

Did not dominate Kareem but he did have good seasons..better than shaq

More like 7’1” at best

Lol se quedan parados y encestan

Porzingis

KD

similar size to KAJ, and far more talented, although not as durable or consistent. 90% of success is showing up.

125 woo weee

marv albert bit some woman 25 time sn attacked her and shurged off all legal problems LOL wonder why he was let go?

Sampson was my Guy,back when I was In HS,I even had the Pumas like him:) 1986 Some very Good Times!

Magic Johnson stays at Michigan State as a junior, Ralph Sampson is a Spartan. And they don't lose a game in college.

I saw Ralph yesterday! Great dude

If Sampson have developed the sky hook he would be unstoppable

this is the most freakish highlight package i have ever seen god damn

Great player and totally ahead of his time. Unfortunately, his career was derailed by injuries. To those commenting on it: Ralph was a better college player than Hakeem, but Hakeem was better as a pro (including Ralph's four all star seasons).

Steve Harvey show brought me here..🔥

I wish ralf had gotten MOre shots damn celtics shoulda grabbed him

038 where foul?