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Ralph Sampson
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Ralph Sampson

Ralph Lee Sampson Jr.

Position: Center-Forward ▪ Shoots: Right
Height: 7-4 ▪ Weight: 228 lbs.
Born: July 7, 1960 in Harrisonburg, Virginia
High School: Harrisonburg in Harrisonburg, Virginia
College: University of Virginia
Draft: Houston Rockets, 1st round (1st pick, 1st overall), 1983 NBA Draft
NBA Debut: October 29, 1983
Hall of Fame: Inducted as Player in 2012 (Full List)

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Elo Fan Ratings

Fine Details ▪ Last updated May 25, 2013 5:17 AM
All-Time Rank: #138. Chet Walker… #139. Antawn Jamison… #140. Detlef Schrempf… #141. RALPH SAMPSON… #142. George McGinnis… #143. Antonio McDyess… #144. Buck Williams… 

Totals

Season Age Tm Lg Pos G GS MP FG FGA FG% 3P 3PA 3P% FT FTA FT% ORB DRB TRB AST STL BLK TOV PF PTS
1983-84 23 HOU NBA C 82 82 2693 716 1369 .523 1 4 .250 287 434 .661 293 620 913 163 70 197 294 339 1720
1984-85 24 HOU NBA PF 82 82 3086 753 1499 .502 0 6 .000 303 448 .676 227 626 853 224 81 168 326 306 1809
1985-86 25 HOU NBA PF 79 76 2864 624 1280 .488 2 15 .133 241 376 .641 258 621 879 283 99 129 285 308 1491
1986-87 26 HOU NBA PF 43 32 1326 277 566 .489 0 3 .000 118 189 .624 88 284 372 120 40 58 126 169 672
1987-88 27 TOT NBA C-PF 48 44 1663 299 682 .438 2 11 .182 149 196 .760 140 322 462 122 41 88 171 164 749
1987-88 27 HOU NBA PF 19 19 705 119 271 .439 2 6 .333 63 85 .741 58 114 172 37 17 33 62 63 303
1987-88 27 GSW NBA C 29 25 958 180 411 .438 0 5 .000 86 111 .775 82 208 290 85 24 55 109 101 446
1988-89 28 GSW NBA C 61 36 1086 164 365 .449 3 8 .375 62 95 .653 105 202 307 77 31 65 90 170 393
1989-90 29 SAC NBA C 26 7 417 48 129 .372 1 4 .250 12 23 .522 11 73 84 28 14 22 34 66 109
1990-91 30 SAC NBA C 25 4 348 34 93 .366 1 5 .200 5 19 .263 41 70 111 17 11 17 27 54 74
1991-92 31 WSB NBA C 10 0 108 9 29 .310 0 2 .000 4 6 .667 11 19 30 4 3 8 10 14 22
Career NBA 456 363 13591 2924 6012 .486 10 58 .172 1181 1786 .661 1174 2837 4011 1038 390 752 1363 1590 7039

Per Game

Season Age Tm Lg Pos G GS MP FG FGA FG% 3P 3PA 3P% FT FTA FT% ORB DRB TRB AST STL BLK TOV PF PTS
1983-84 23 HOU NBA C 82 82 32.8 8.7 16.7 .523 0.0 0.0 .250 3.5 5.3 .661 3.6 7.6 11.1 2.0 0.9 2.4 3.6 4.1 21.0
1984-85 24 HOU NBA PF 82 82 37.6 9.2 18.3 .502 0.0 0.1 .000 3.7 5.5 .676 2.8 7.6 10.4 2.7 1.0 2.0 4.0 3.7 22.1
1985-86 25 HOU NBA PF 79 76 36.3 7.9 16.2 .488 0.0 0.2 .133 3.1 4.8 .641 3.3 7.9 11.1 3.6 1.3 1.6 3.6 3.9 18.9
1986-87 26 HOU NBA PF 43 32 30.8 6.4 13.2 .489 0.0 0.1 .000 2.7 4.4 .624 2.0 6.6 8.7 2.8 0.9 1.3 2.9 3.9 15.6
1987-88 27 TOT NBA C-PF 48 44 34.6 6.2 14.2 .438 0.0 0.2 .182 3.1 4.1 .760 2.9 6.7 9.6 2.5 0.9 1.8 3.6 3.4 15.6
1987-88 27 HOU NBA PF 19 19 37.1 6.3 14.3 .439 0.1 0.3 .333 3.3 4.5 .741 3.1 6.0 9.1 1.9 0.9 1.7 3.3 3.3 15.9
1987-88 27 GSW NBA C 29 25 33.0 6.2 14.2 .438 0.0 0.2 .000 3.0 3.8 .775 2.8 7.2 10.0 2.9 0.8 1.9 3.8 3.5 15.4
1988-89 28 GSW NBA C 61 36 17.8 2.7 6.0 .449 0.0 0.1 .375 1.0 1.6 .653 1.7 3.3 5.0 1.3 0.5 1.1 1.5 2.8 6.4
1989-90 29 SAC NBA C 26 7 16.0 1.8 5.0 .372 0.0 0.2 .250 0.5 0.9 .522 0.4 2.8 3.2 1.1 0.5 0.8 1.3 2.5 4.2
1990-91 30 SAC NBA C 25 4 13.9 1.4 3.7 .366 0.0 0.2 .200 0.2 0.8 .263 1.6 2.8 4.4 0.7 0.4 0.7 1.1 2.2 3.0
1991-92 31 WSB NBA C 10 0 10.8 0.9 2.9 .310 0.0 0.2 .000 0.4 0.6 .667 1.1 1.9 3.0 0.4 0.3 0.8 1.0 1.4 2.2
Career NBA 456 363 29.8 6.4 13.2 .486 0.0 0.1 .172 2.6 3.9 .661 2.6 6.2 8.8 2.3 0.9 1.6 3.0 3.5 15.4

Per 36 Minutes

Season Age Tm Lg Pos G GS MP FG FGA FG% 3P 3PA 3P% FT FTA FT% ORB DRB TRB AST STL BLK TOV PF PTS
1983-84 23 HOU NBA C 82 82 2693 9.6 18.3 .523 0.0 0.1 .250 3.8 5.8 .661 3.9 8.3 12.2 2.2 0.9 2.6 3.9 4.5 23.0
1984-85 24 HOU NBA PF 82 82 3086 8.8 17.5 .502 0.0 0.1 .000 3.5 5.2 .676 2.6 7.3 10.0 2.6 0.9 2.0 3.8 3.6 21.1
1985-86 25 HOU NBA PF 79 76 2864 7.8 16.1 .488 0.0 0.2 .133 3.0 4.7 .641 3.2 7.8 11.0 3.6 1.2 1.6 3.6 3.9 18.7
1986-87 26 HOU NBA PF 43 32 1326 7.5 15.4 .489 0.0 0.1 .000 3.2 5.1 .624 2.4 7.7 10.1 3.3 1.1 1.6 3.4 4.6 18.2
1987-88 27 TOT NBA C-PF 48 44 1663 6.5 14.8 .438 0.0 0.2 .182 3.2 4.2 .760 3.0 7.0 10.0 2.6 0.9 1.9 3.7 3.6 16.2
1987-88 27 HOU NBA PF 19 19 705 6.1 13.8 .439 0.1 0.3 .333 3.2 4.3 .741 3.0 5.8 8.8 1.9 0.9 1.7 3.2 3.2 15.5
1987-88 27 GSW NBA C 29 25 958 6.8 15.4 .438 0.0 0.2 .000 3.2 4.2 .775 3.1 7.8 10.9 3.2 0.9 2.1 4.1 3.8 16.8
1988-89 28 GSW NBA C 61 36 1086 5.4 12.1 .449 0.1 0.3 .375 2.1 3.1 .653 3.5 6.7 10.2 2.6 1.0 2.2 3.0 5.6 13.0
1989-90 29 SAC NBA C 26 7 417 4.1 11.1 .372 0.1 0.3 .250 1.0 2.0 .522 0.9 6.3 7.3 2.4 1.2 1.9 2.9 5.7 9.4
1990-91 30 SAC NBA C 25 4 348 3.5 9.6 .366 0.1 0.5 .200 0.5 2.0 .263 4.2 7.2 11.5 1.8 1.1 1.8 2.8 5.6 7.7
1991-92 31 WSB NBA C 10 0 108 3.0 9.7 .310 0.0 0.7 .000 1.3 2.0 .667 3.7 6.3 10.0 1.3 1.0 2.7 3.3 4.7 7.3
Career NBA 456 363 13591 7.7 15.9 .486 0.0 0.2 .172 3.1 4.7 .661 3.1 7.5 10.6 2.7 1.0 2.0 3.6 4.2 18.6

Advanced

Season Age Tm Lg Pos G MP PER TS% eFG% ORB% DRB% TRB% AST% STL% BLK% TOV% USG% ORtg DRtg OWS DWS WS WS/48
1983-84 23 HOU NBA C 82 2693 20.1 .551 .523 11.8 24.7 18.3 8.9 1.2 4.0 15.9 27.1 104 104 1.9 4.1 6.0 .108
1984-85 24 HOU NBA PF 82 3086 17.4 .533 .502 8.2 22.6 15.4 10.4 1.2 3.1 16.1 25.9 102 104 1.4 4.8 6.2 .096
1985-86 25 HOU NBA PF 79 2864 16.9 .516 .488 9.6 23.6 16.5 13.5 1.6 2.5 16.5 23.6 101 104 1.1 4.0 5.0 .084
1986-87 26 HOU NBA PF 43 1326 15.4 .518 .489 7.4 23.2 15.4 13.6 1.4 2.5 16.3 23.9 99 102 -0.2 2.4 2.2 .078
1987-88 27 TOT NBA C-PF 48 1663 13.4 .487 .440 9.0 21.4 15.1 10.6 1.2 3.0 18.2 22.8 94 107 -1.3 1.9 0.6 .018
1987-88 27 HOU NBA PF 19 705 12.6 .491 .443 8.6 16.8 12.7 7.4 1.1 2.6 16.7 21.1 96 105 -0.3 1.0 0.7 .048
1987-88 27 GSW NBA C 29 958 14.0 .485 .438 9.3 24.8 16.8 12.9 1.2 3.4 19.2 24.0 92 109 -1.0 0.9 -0.1 -0.004
1988-89 28 GSW NBA C 61 1086 11.4 .483 .453 9.7 18.5 14.1 9.0 1.3 3.3 18.1 17.3 97 106 -0.3 1.4 1.1 .048
1989-90 29 SAC NBA C 26 417 5.5 .392 .376 3.0 19.7 11.4 9.3 1.7 3.1 19.6 17.9 74 106 -1.1 0.5 -0.6 -0.068
1990-91 30 SAC NBA C 25 348 7.2 .365 .371 13.0 23.4 18.1 7.1 1.6 3.1 21.0 16.1 78 105 -0.8 0.5 -0.3 -0.038
1991-92 31 WSB NBA C 10 108 5.8 .348 .310 10.9 19.7 15.2 4.8 1.4 4.5 24.0 16.3 72 105 -0.3 0.2 -0.2 -0.069
Career NBA 456 13591 16.0 .518 .487 9.3 22.7 16.0 10.8 1.3 3.1 16.7 23.8 99 104 0.4 19.7 20.1 .071

Playoffs Totals

Season Age Tm Lg Pos G GS MP FG FGA FG% 3P 3PA 3P% FT FTA FT% ORB DRB TRB AST STL BLK TOV PF PTS
1984-85 24 HOU NBA PF 5 5 193 43 100 .430 1 1 1.000 19 37 .514 25 58 83 7 2 8 17 23 106
1985-86 25 HOU NBA PF 20 20 741 156 301 .518 1 1 1.000 86 118 .729 66 149 215 80 30 35 71 79 399
1986-87 26 HOU NBA PF 10 10 330 75 146 .514 1 2 .500 35 43 .814 27 61 88 21 2 12 31 47 186
1988-89 28 GSW NBA C 3 1 43 9 22 .409 0 4 .000 2 4 .500 6 8 14 1 1 2 4 8 20
Career NBA 38 36 1307 283 569 .497 3 8 .375 142 202 .703 124 276 400 109 35 57 123 157 711

Playoffs Per Game

Season Age Tm Lg Pos G GS MP FG FGA FG% 3P 3PA 3P% FT FTA FT% ORB DRB TRB AST STL BLK TOV PF PTS
1984-85 24 HOU NBA PF 5 5 38.6 8.6 20.0 .430 0.2 0.2 1.000 3.8 7.4 .514 5.0 11.6 16.6 1.4 0.4 1.6 3.4 4.6 21.2
1985-86 25 HOU NBA PF 20 20 37.1 7.8 15.1 .518 0.1 0.1 1.000 4.3 5.9 .729 3.3 7.5 10.8 4.0 1.5 1.8 3.6 4.0 20.0
1986-87 26 HOU NBA PF 10 10 33.0 7.5 14.6 .514 0.1 0.2 .500 3.5 4.3 .814 2.7 6.1 8.8 2.1 0.2 1.2 3.1 4.7 18.6
1988-89 28 GSW NBA C 3 1 14.3 3.0 7.3 .409 0.0 1.3 .000 0.7 1.3 .500 2.0 2.7 4.7 0.3 0.3 0.7 1.3 2.7 6.7
Career NBA 38 36 34.4 7.4 15.0 .497 0.1 0.2 .375 3.7 5.3 .703 3.3 7.3 10.5 2.9 0.9 1.5 3.2 4.1 18.7

Playoffs Per 36 Minutes

Season Age Tm Lg Pos G GS MP FG FGA FG% 3P 3PA 3P% FT FTA FT% ORB DRB TRB AST STL BLK TOV PF PTS
1984-85 24 HOU NBA PF 5 5 193 8.0 18.7 .430 0.2 0.2 1.000 3.5 6.9 .514 4.7 10.8 15.5 1.3 0.4 1.5 3.2 4.3 19.8
1985-86 25 HOU NBA PF 20 20 741 7.6 14.6 .518 0.0 0.0 1.000 4.2 5.7 .729 3.2 7.2 10.4 3.9 1.5 1.7 3.4 3.8 19.4
1986-87 26 HOU NBA PF 10 10 330 8.2 15.9 .514 0.1 0.2 .500 3.8 4.7 .814 2.9 6.7 9.6 2.3 0.2 1.3 3.4 5.1 20.3
1988-89 28 GSW NBA C 3 1 43 7.5 18.4 .409 0.0 3.3 .000 1.7 3.3 .500 5.0 6.7 11.7 0.8 0.8 1.7 3.3 6.7 16.7
Career NBA 38 36 1307 7.8 15.7 .497 0.1 0.2 .375 3.9 5.6 .703 3.4 7.6 11.0 3.0 1.0 1.6 3.4 4.3 19.6

Playoffs Advanced

Season Age Tm Lg Pos G MP PER TS% eFG% ORB% DRB% TRB% AST% STL% BLK% TOV% USG% ORtg DRtg OWS DWS WS WS/48
1984-85 24 HOU NBA PF 5 193 15.2 .456 .435 11.1 30.1 19.9 5.4 0.5 2.6 12.8 25.7 96 97 -0.2 0.5 0.3 .083
1985-86 25 HOU NBA PF 20 741 18.9 .565 .520 9.6 21.5 15.6 15.3 2.0 2.7 16.7 23.2 109 103 0.8 1.4 2.2 .141
1986-87 26 HOU NBA PF 10 330 15.8 .564 .517 9.8 20.1 15.2 10.6 0.3 2.1 15.8 25.2 107 108 0.2 0.5 0.7 .097
1988-89 28 GSW NBA C 3 43 10.4 .421 .409 14.1 18.0 16.1 3.4 1.1 2.6 14.4 25.8 87 112 -0.1 0.0 -0.1 -0.064
Career NBA 38 1307 17.3 .540 .500 10.0 22.3 16.1 12.2 1.3 2.5 15.8 24.1 106 104 0.7 2.4 3.1 .115

All-Star Games

Season Age Tm Lg Pos G GS MP FG FGA FG% 3P 3PA 3P% FT FTA FT% ORB TRB AST STL BLK TOV PF PTS
1983-84 23 HOU NBA C 1 0 16:00 4 7 .571 0 0 1 2 .500 1 5 0 0 0 3 4 9
1984-85 24 HOU NBA PF 1 1 29:00 10 15 .667 0 0 4 6 .667 3 10 1 0 1 1 5 24
1985-86 25 HOU NBA PF 1 1 21:00 7 11 .636 0 0 2 2 1.000 1 4 1 0 0 2 4 16
1986-87 26 HOU NBA PF
Career NBA 3 2 66 21 33 .636 0 0 7 10 .700 5 19 2 0 1 6 13 49

Similarity Scores

Explanation ▪ Players with careers of similar quality and shape (thru 2012-13)
Thru 9 Years Win Shares (Best to Worst)
Player Sim 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
Ralph Sampson 6.2 6.0 5.0 2.2 1.1 0.6 -0.2 -0.3 -0.6
DeAndre Jordan 86.9 6.2 5.6 5.2 1.5 1.3
Darrall Imhoff 83.5 5.9 5.0 4.9 2.4 2.1 0.7 0.7 0.0 -0.6
Bob Rule 81.4 7.8 6.4 5.2 2.4 0.5 0.3 0.1 0.0
Kendrick Perkins 80.7 6.2 5.6 5.2 2.3 2.0 1.4 1.0 0.7 0.1
Roy Hibbert 79.2 6.2 6.1 4.1 3.6 2.1
Gene Moore 78.8 6.8 5.7 5.0 4.5 1.9 0.8 0.0
Joel Przybilla 78.2 6.6 4.7 4.3 2.3 1.9 0.6 0.3 0.1 0.1
Scot Pollard 75.3 6.8 5.4 5.1 2.1 1.9 1.4 1.1 1.0 0.9
Jamaal Magloire 74.1 7.6 6.7 5.7 2.6 2.0 1.3 1.1 0.3 -0.6
Don Otten 74.1 8.5 5.8 4.9 1.7
Career Win Shares (Best to Worst)
Player Sim 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13
Ralph Sampson 6.2 6.0 5.0 2.2 1.1 0.6 -0.2 -0.3 -0.6
DeAndre Jordan 86.9 6.2 5.6 5.2 1.5 1.3
Bob Rule 81.4 7.8 6.4 5.2 2.4 0.5 0.3 0.1 0.0
Roy Hibbert 79.2 6.2 6.1 4.1 3.6 2.1
Gene Moore 78.8 6.8 5.7 5.0 4.5 1.9 0.8 0.0
Don Otten 74.1 8.5 5.8 4.9 1.7
Scot Pollard 73.5 6.8 5.4 5.1 2.1 1.9 1.4 1.1 1.0 0.9 0.6 0.2
JaVale McGee 73.4 5.3 4.9 4.1 2.1 2.0
Kendrick Perkins 73.2 6.2 5.6 5.2 2.5 2.3 2.0 1.4 1.0 0.7 0.1
Joel Przybilla 71.9 6.6 4.7 4.3 2.3 1.9 1.4 0.6 0.5 0.3 0.3 0.1 0.1 0.0
Tim McCormick 70.4 6.0 4.6 3.9 3.8 2.0 1.1 0.2 -0.1

College

Light text indicates college freshman or JV participant
Totals Shooting Per Game
Season Age College G MP FG FGA 3P 3PA FT FTA ORB TRB AST STL BLK TOV PF PTS FG% 3P% FT% MP PTS TRB AST
1979-80 19 VIRGINIA 34 1017 221 404 66 94 381 36 28 157 106 101 508 .547 .702 29.9 14.9 11.2 1.1
1980-81 20 VIRGINIA 33 1056 230 413 125 198 378 49 28 103 90 87 585 .557 .631 32.0 17.7 11.5 1.5
1981-82 21 VIRGINIA 32 1002 198 353 110 179 366 38 18 99 60 85 506 .561 .615 31.3 15.8 11.4 1.2
1982-83 22 VIRGINIA 33 995 250 414 126 179 386 34 21 103 86 96 626 .604 .704 30.2 19.0 11.7 1.0
Career 132 4070 899 1584 427 650 1511 157 95 462 342 369 2225 .568 .657 30.8 16.9 11.4 1.2

Appearances on Leaderboards, Awards, and Honors

All-Star Games
1984 NBA
1985 NBA
1986 NBA
1987 NBA
Awards
1980-81 NCAA AP Player of the Year
1980-81 NCAA Naismith Men's College Player of the Year Award
1981-82 NCAA AP Player of the Year
1981-82 NCAA John R. Wooden Award
1981-82 NCAA Naismith Men's College Player of the Year Award
1982-83 NCAA AP Player of the Year
1982-83 NCAA John R. Wooden Award
1982-83 NCAA Naismith Men's College Player of the Year Award
1983-84 NBA Rookie of the Year
1984-85 NBA All-Star Game MVP
Weekly & Monthly Awards

Rookie of the Month: 5 times (Show/Hide)
Honors
1979 McDonald's All American
1980-81 NCAA AP All-America (1st)
1981-82 NCAA AP All-America (1st)
1982-83 NCAA AP All-America (1st)
1983-84 NBA All-Rookie (1st)
1984-85 NBA All-NBA (2nd)
MVP Award Shares
1984-85 NBA 0.033 (10)
Career 0.033 (120)
Games
1983-84 NBA 82 (1)
 1984-85 NBA 82 (1)
Minutes Played
1984-85 NBA 3086 (6)
Field Goals
1984-85 NBA 753 (10)
Offensive Rebounds
1983-84 NBA 293 (5)
1985-86 NBA 258 (9)
Defensive Rebounds
1983-84 NBA 620 (5)
1984-85 NBA 626 (6)
1985-86 NBA 621 (5)
Total Rebounds
1983-84 NBA 913 (5)
1984-85 NBA 853 (8)
1985-86 NBA 879 (4)
Blocks
1983-84 NBA 197 (3)
1984-85 NBA 168 (7)
Turnovers
1983-84 NBA 294 (5)
1984-85 NBA 326 (1)
 1985-86 NBA 285 (5)
Personal Fouls
1983-84 NBA 339 (3)
1984-85 NBA 306 (10)
1985-86 NBA 308 (4)
Minutes Per Game
1984-85 NBA 37.6 (7)
Rebounds Per Game
1983-84 NBA 11.1 (5)
1985-86 NBA 11.1 (5)
Blocks Per Game
1983-84 NBA 2.4 (3)
Offensive Rebound Pct
1983-84 NBA 11.8 (10)
Defensive Rebound Pct
1983-84 NBA 24.7 (10)
Total Rebound Pct
1983-84 NBA 18.3 (6)
Block Pct
1983-84 NBA 4.0 (6)
Defensive Win Shares
1984-85 NBA 4.8 (5)
Hall of Fame Probability
Career 0.027 (242)
NBA Elo Player Rating
141st (overall) as of May 25, 2013, 5:08AM

Transactions

June 28, 1983: Drafted by the Houston Rockets in the 1st round (1st pick) of the 1983 NBA Draft.

December 12, 1987: Traded by the Houston Rockets with Steve Harris to the Golden State Warriors for Joe Barry Carroll, Sleepy Floyd and cash.

September 27, 1989: Traded by the Golden State Warriors to the Sacramento Kings for Jim Petersen.

October 25, 1991: Waived by the Sacramento Kings.

November 19, 1991: Signed as a free agent with the Washington Bullets.

January 6, 1992: Waived by the Washington Bullets.

Salaries

Season Team Lg Salary
1985-86 Houston Rockets NBA $1,165,500
1987-88 Golden State Warriors NBA $1,735,000
1988-89 Golden State Warriors NBA $1,960,000
1990-91 Sacramento Kings NBA $2,250,000
1991-92 Sacramento Kings NBA $2,685,000
1992-93 Sacramento Kings NBA $2,685,000
Career (may be incomplete) $12,480,500

Links

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