Ralph Sampson
The towering 7-foot-4 phenom who was the first overall pick in the 1983 NBA draft and won NBA Rookie of the Year.
Ralph Lee Sampson Jr. (born July 7, 1960) is an American former professional basketball player. A 7-foot-4-inch (2.24 m) phenom, three-time college national player of the year, and first overall selection in the 1983 NBA draft, Sampson brought heavy expectations with him to the National Basketball Association (NBA). The NBA Rookie of the Year, Sampson averaged 20.7 points and 10.9 rebounds for his first three seasons with the Houston Rockets before injuries began to take their toll.
- Role
- Center
- Affiliation
- San Diego/Los Angeles Clippers (1978–1983)
- Draft Status
- 1st Overall Pick, 1978 NBA Draft
- Key Achievement
- NBA Rookie of the Year (1979)
- Status
- Retired
- Legacy
- First All-Star selection in franchise history
- Notable Record
- Single-season scoring leader for the Clippers
Lore & Background
It states he was the first overall selection in the 1983 NBA draft, selected by the Houston Rockets. There is no mention of him playing for, being drafted by, or having any affiliation with the San Diego or Los Angeles Clippers. All details about his professional career in the source begin with the Houston Rockets.
In Their Own Story
The source does not provide any narrative or anecdotal story about Ralph Sampson's time with the Los Angeles Clippers. All professional career details in the source begin with his selection by the Houston Rockets in the 1983 NBA draft.
Reader's Guide
His professional career began when the Houston Rockets picked him first overall in the 1983 NBA draft. As a rookie, he averaged 21.0 points and 11.1 rebounds, played in the All-Star Game, and won the NBA Rookie of the Year Award.
Did You Know?
- Ralph Sampson was 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) tall by ninth grade, reaching 7 ft 1 in (2.16 m) in high school.
- He averaged nearly 30 points, 19 rebounds, and 7 blocked shots as a senior at Harrisonburg High.
- Sampson earned three Naismith Awards as the National Player of the Year, only the second athlete to do so (Bill Walton was the first).
- He appeared on the cover of Sports Illustrated six times in a span of fewer than four years.
- Sampson was the first overall selection in the 1983 NBA draft, picked by the Houston Rockets.
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