Sam Perkins
A smooth-shooting big man who played 17 NBA seasons and appeared in three NBA Finals.
Sam Perkins is an American former professional basketball player and executive. He played in the NBA for 17 seasons, from 1984 to 2001, with the Dallas Mavericks, Los Angeles Lakers, Seattle SuperSonics, and Indiana Pacers. Perkins was a three-time college All-American at the University of North Carolina, a member of the 1982 national champion Tar Heels, and won a gold medal with the 1984 U.S. Olympic team. He was known by the nicknames "Sleepy Sam", "Big Smooth", and "The Big Easy".
- Full Name
- Samuel Bruce Perkins
- NBA Draft Year
- 1984
- Draft Pick
- 4th Overall by Dallas Mavericks
- Career Status
- Retired
Verified Timeline
Lore & Background
Perkins was drafted fourth overall by the Dallas Mavericks in the 1984 NBA draft and made the All-Rookie First Team in 1985. He scored a career-high 45 points on April 12, 1990, and tied an NBA record on January 15, 1997, by making eight three-pointers without a miss. Perkins appeared in three NBA Finals: in 1991 with the Lakers, in 1996 with the SuperSonics, and in 2000 with the Pacers—all lost to teams coached by Phil Jackson. In Game 1 of the 1991 Finals, he made a game-winning three-point shot to defeat the Chicago Bulls.
In Their Own Story
Perkins finished his college career as the Tar Heels' all-time leader in rebounds and blocked shots and as the second-highest scorer in team history. He was a co-captain of the gold medal-winning 1984 U.S. Olympic team. After retiring, he was named vice president of player relations for the Indiana Pacers from 2008 to 2010. In 2011, he traveled to South Sudan as a SportsUnited Sports Envoy for the U.S. Department of State, working with Dikembe Mutombo to lead basketball clinics. He was inducted into the National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame in 2018.
Reader's Guide
Perkins has the distinction of having the fourth-most playoff games appeared in without having won an NBA Championship. The only players with more playoff appearances and zero rings, as of the 2025 season, are Hall of Fame Utah Jazz teammates Karl Malone and John Stockton and current player James Harden. He runs a summer camp for Chapel Hill, North Carolina, youth that focuses on developing basic basketball skills. Perkins was raised a Jehovah's Witness and during his professional career stood away from his line of teammates for the national anthem due to his faith.
Did You Know?
- Perkins was a three-time college All-American and a member of the 1982 national champion North Carolina Tar Heels alongside James Worthy and Michael Jordan.
- He tied an NBA record on January 15, 1997, by making eight three-pointers without a miss.
- In Game 1 of the 1991 NBA Finals, Perkins made a game-winning three-point shot to defeat the Chicago Bulls.
- Perkins has the fourth-most playoff games appeared in without having won an NBA Championship, behind only Karl Malone, John Stockton, and James Harden.
- He was raised a Jehovah's Witness and stood away from his teammates during the national anthem due to his faith.
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