View source for Ralph Sampson

{{short description|American basketball player (born 1960)}}
{{other people}}
{{use mdy dates|date=January 2019}}
{{Infobox basketball biography
| name = Ralph Sampson
| image = Ralph Sampson at Family farm in McGaheysville, Virginia on May 23, 2024 (cropped).jpg
| width = 
| caption = Sampson in 2024
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1960|7|7}}
| birth_place = [[Harrisonburg, Virginia]], U.S.
| height_ft = 7
| height_in = 4
| weight_lb = 228
| high_school = [[Harrisonburg High School (Virginia)|Harrisonburg]] {{nowrap|(Harrisonburg, Virginia)}}
| college = [[Virginia Cavaliers men's basketball|Virginia]] (1979–1983)
| draft_year = 1983
| draft_round = 1
| draft_pick = 1
| draft_team = [[Houston Rockets]]
| career_start = 1983
| career_end = 1995
| career_position = [[Center (basketball)|Center]] / [[power forward]]
| career_number = 50
| coach_start = 1992
| coach_end = 2013
| years1 = {{nbay|1983|start}}–{{nbay|1987|start}}
| team1 = [[Houston Rockets]]
| years2 = {{nbay|1987|start}}–{{nbay|1988|end}}
| team2 = [[Golden State Warriors]]
| years3 = {{nbay|1989|start}}–{{nbay|1990|end}}
| team3 = [[Sacramento Kings]]
| years4 = {{nbay|1991|full=y}}
| team4 = [[Washington Bullets]]
| years5 = [[1991–92 ACB season|1992]]
| team5 = [[Baloncesto Málaga|Unicaja Ronda]]
| years6 = 1994–1995
| team6 = [[Rockford Lightning]]
| cyears1 = [[1992–93 NCAA Division I men's basketball season|1992–1993]]
| cteam1 = [[James Madison Dukes men's basketball|James Madison]] (assistant)
| cyears2 = 1999–2000
| cteam2 = [[Richmond Rhythm]]
| cyears3 = {{nbay|2012|full=y}}
| cteam3 = [[Phoenix Suns]] (assistant)
| highlights = 
* 4× [[NBA All-Star]] ({{nasg|1984}}–{{nasg|1987}})
* [[NBA All-Star Game Most Valuable Player Award|NBA All-Star Game MVP]] ({{nasg|1985}})
* [[All-NBA Second Team]] ({{nbay|1984|end}})
* [[NBA Rookie of the Year Award|NBA Rookie of the Year]] ({{nbay|1983|end}})
*[[NBA All-Rookie Team]] ({{nbay|1983|end}})
* 3× [[List of U.S. men's college basketball national player of the year awards|National college player of the year]] ([[1980–81 NCAA Division I men's basketball season|1981]]–[[1982–83 NCAA Division I men's basketball season|1983]])
* {{nowrap|3× Consensus first-team [[NCAA Men's Basketball All-Americans|All-American]] ([[1981 NCAA Men's Basketball All-Americans|1981]]–[[1983 NCAA Men's Basketball All-Americans|1983]])}}
* [[ACC Athlete of the Year]] (1983)
* 3× [[Atlantic Coast Conference Men's Basketball Player of the Year|ACC Player of the Year]] (1981–1983)
* 3× First-team [[List of All-Atlantic Coast Conference men's basketball teams|All-ACC]] (1981–1983)
* [[Atlantic Coast Conference Men's Basketball Rookie of the Year|ACC Rookie of the Year]] (1980)
* No. 50 [[Virginia Cavaliers men's basketball#Retired numbers|retired by Virginia Cavaliers]]
* [[McDonald's All-American Game|McDonald's All-American]] ([[1979 McDonald's All-American Boys Game|1979]])
* First-team [[Parade All-America Boys Basketball Team|''Parade'' All-American]] (1979)
| stats_league = NBA
| stat1label = [[Point (basketball)|Points]]
| stat1value = 7,039 (15.4 ppg)
| stat2label = [[Rebound (basketball)|Rebounds]]
| stat2value = 4,011 (8.8 rpg)
| stat3label = [[Block (basketball)|Blocks]]
| stat3value = 752 (1.6 bpg)
| CBBASKHOF_year = 2011
| HOF_player = Ralph-Sampson
| medal_templates = {{MedalCountry | {{flagu|United States}} }}
{{MedalSport|Men's [[basketball]]}}
{{MedalCompetition|[[Pan American Games]]}}
{{MedalGold |[[1979 Pan American Games|1979 San Juan]] | [[Basketball at the 1979 Pan American Games|Team competition]]}}
}}
'''Ralph Lee Sampson Jr.''' (born July 7, 1960) is an American former professional [[basketball]] player. He is a member of the [[Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame]]. A {{convert|7|ft|4|in|adj=on}} phenom, three-time [[List of U.S. men's college basketball national player of the year awards|college national player of the year]], and [[List of first overall NBA draft picks|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 Award|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. Three knee surgeries later, after 12 seasons in professional basketball, he retired in 1995 as a four-time [[NBA All-Star]] and the [[NBA All-Star Game Most Valuable Player]] (MVP) in the [[1985 NBA All-Star Game]].

==Early life==
{{BLP sources section|date=February 2022}}
Sampson was born in [[Harrisonburg, Virginia]], to Sarah and Ralph Sampson Sr. He was already {{height|ft=6|in=7|precision=2}} tall by ninth grade, reaching {{height|ft=7|in=1|precision=2}} in high school. He averaged nearly 30 points, 19 rebounds, and 7 blocked shots as a senior (after averaging 14 points and 11 rebounds as a sophomore, and 19 points and 17 rebounds as a junior), at [[Harrisonburg High School (Virginia)|Harrisonburg High]], leading the team to state AA basketball championships in 1978 and 1979. Sampson earned unanimous All-America honors, starred in post-season all-star games and made the Pan Am Games team.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Keith |first=Larry |date=December 17, 1979 |title=His Future Is Up In The Air |url=https://vault.si.com/vault/1979/12/17/his-future-is-up-in-the-air-its-too-early-to-tell-for-sure-but-ralph-sampson-virginias-giant-freshman-could-rule-the-game |url-status= |access-date=March 5, 2025 |website=vault.si.com}}</ref> His senior year he lost the high school player of the year award to another talented center, [[Sam Bowie]]. However, he did get a form of revenge against Bowie, outplaying him in the [[Capital Classic (all-star game)|Capital Classic]], getting 23 points and 21 rebounds with 4 blocks in a game styled "Battle of the Giants".

==College career==
{{BLP sources section|date=February 2022}}
Sampson was arguably the most heavily recruited college basketball prospect of his generation and appeared on the cover of ''[[Sports Illustrated]]'' six times in a span of fewer than four years (December 17, 1979; December 1, 1980; March 30, 1981; November 29, 1982; December 20, 1982; and October 31, 1983).

Playing center for the [[University of Virginia]], he led the Cavaliers to an NIT title in 1980, an NCAA Final Four appearance in 1981, and an NCAA Elite Eight appearance in 1983. He earned three [[Naismith College Player of the Year|Naismith Awards]] as the National Player of the Year, only the second athlete to do so ([[Bill Walton]] was the first), and a pair of [[Wooden Award]]s. Sampson considered leaving Virginia after his junior year and [[NBA draft declaration|declaring]] for the [[1982 NBA draft]]. The [[Los Angeles Clippers#1978–1984: San Diego Clippers|San Diego Clippers]] and [[Los Angeles Lakers]] would flip a coin to determine who would draft first overall, but the deadline for Sampson to make himself available came before the scheduled coin flip. Rather than risk playing for the Clippers (who ended up losing the toss), Sampson stayed in school.<ref>{{cite news|last=Springer|first=Steve|title=No Matter How It Comes Out, Clippers Always Get Flip Side|date=June 21, 1991|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1991-06-21-sp-847-story.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140428054534/http://articles.latimes.com/1991-06-21/sports/sp-847_1_flip-side|archive-date=April 28, 2014|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Professional career==

===Houston Rockets (1983–1987)===
With his size and agility, Sampson was expected to revolutionize the center position with expectations to previous legends at the position from [[Wilt Chamberlain]] to [[Bill Russell]] when he reached the [[National Basketball Association]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Orton |first=Kathy |date=2013-06-20 |title=Ralph Sampson was 1983's top NBA pick. Where is he now? |language=en-US |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/magazine/ralph-sampson-was-1983s-top-nba-pick-where-is-he-now/2013/06/19/4e3cc9bc-cc5c-11e2-8845-d970ccb04497_story.html |access-date=2023-06-21 |issn=0190-8286}}</ref> The [[Houston Rockets]] picked him first overall in the [[1983 NBA draft]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/draft/NBA_1983.html|title=1983 NBA Draft|publisher=basketballreference.com}}</ref> As a rookie, he averaged 21.0 points and 11.1 rebounds, played in the [[NBA All-Star Game|All-Star Game]], and won the [[NBA Rookie of the Year Award]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/awards/roy.html|title=Rookie of the Year Award winners|publisher=basketballreference.com}}</ref>

The Rockets managed only a 29–53 record in [[1983–84 NBA season|1983–84]], which qualified them to pick first in the [[1984 NBA draft]]. Houston selected fellow center [[Hakeem Olajuwon]] out of the [[Houston Cougars men's basketball|University of Houston]]. Many observers criticized the Rockets' choice, believing the two 7-footers (known as the Twin Towers) would not be effective playing together, while others thought the combination could be overpowering. Sampson, playing a new style of power forward, had new expectations placed upon him. At the time, [[Dallas Mavericks]] Coach [[Dick Motta]] said, "That front line, when history is written when they've grown up, might be the best-assembled on one team. Ever." Houston guard [[John Lucas II|John Lucas]] said of Sampson's move to forward, "He'll revolutionize the game."<ref>{{Cite news |last=Aldridge |first=David |date=1988-12-25 |title=SAMPSON SAD SAGA OF A SAVIOR |language=en-US |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/sports/1988/12/25/sampson-sad-saga-of-a-savior/264d5627-673d-4272-9907-fcc67e44c48c/ |access-date=2022-10-16 |issn=0190-8286}}</ref>

In [[1984–85 NBA season|1984–85]], the Rockets improved by 19 games to 48–34 and made the playoffs for the first time in three seasons. Sampson had his best individual campaign, averaging 22.1 points and 10.4 rebounds and earning a berth on the All-NBA Second Team. He and Olajuwon both played in the [[1985 NBA All-Star Game]], and Sampson, after scoring 24 points and grabbing 10 rebounds, earned the game's MVP Award.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/allstar/NBA_1985.html|title=1985 NBA All-Star Box Score|publisher=basketballreference.com}}</ref> On March 5, 1985, in a loss against the Denver Nuggets, Sampson recorded 30 points, 15 rebounds, 8 assists, and 5 steals and was the first player in NBA history to record at least 30 points, 15 rebounds, 5 assists, and 5 steals since the league started recording steals.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.stathead.com/basketball/pgl_finder.cgi|title=Player Game Finder|website=Stathead.com|access-date=November 26, 2021}}</ref>

The next season Houston won the Midwest Division with a 51–31 record. Sampson experienced his first scare with injury during a game on March 24, 1986, when an attempt to grab a rebound against the [[Boston Celtics]] saw him land awkwardly with his head driven into the court. He had a severely bruised back and missed three games; team president Ray Patterson later contended that Sampson was never quite the same after that injury.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://vault.si.com/vault/1989/12/04/no-legs-to-stand-on-ralph-sampson-is-now-with-sacramento-trying-to-save-a-career-made-shaky-by-bad-knees-and-a-tarnished-past | title=No Legs to Stand on | work=Sports Illustrated Vault &#124; SI.com }}</ref> In total, he averaged 18.9 points with 11.1 rebounds and 3.6 assists in 79 total games that season. In the playoffs, the Rockets swept the Sacramento Kings, but faced a stiffer challenge against Alex English and the Denver Nuggets in the Conference Semi-Finals, eventually winning the series 4–2, with the sixth and deciding game going to double overtime. Against the defending champion Lakers in the Conference Finals, the Rockets were ready to knock off their rivals who had the best of them during the season. The Rockets lost game 1, but the Rockets fought back, winning four straight to take the series four games to one. In Game 5 of that series, Sampson provided one of the most memorable moments in [[NBA Playoffs|NBA Playoff]] history.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Astramskas |first=David |title=(86) Ralph Sampson shocks the Lakers with a game-winning miracle shot |url=https://ballislife.com/this-day-in-history-5-21-86-ralph-sampson-shocks-the-lakers-with-a-game-winning-miracle-shot/ |access-date=2022-10-16 |website=ballislife.com |language=en-US}}</ref> With the score tied at 112, Olajuwon having earlier been ejected, and with only one second remaining on the clock, Sampson took an inbounds pass and launched a twisting turnaround jumper that bounced twice, and went through the hoop at the buzzer, giving the Rockets a 114–112 victory and a shocking series upset.

In the [[1986 NBA Finals|NBA Finals]], the Rockets faced the [[Boston Celtics]]. Boston sportswriters were not happy about not getting revenge against the Lakers who had beaten the Celtics in the Finals the year before, but the matchup was interesting with the young frontcourt challenging the old guard of the Celtics. During the season at the Boston Garden, the Rockets were playing the Celtics well until Sampson suffered a jarring fall on his back. At the start of the Finals, Sampson quickly found himself in foul trouble early in Game 1 as Boston easily went up 2-0 going back to Houston. The Rockets won a close Game 3 under the leadership of Sampson. Game 4 also went down to the wire with the Celtics pulling it out on late [[Larry Bird]] 3-pointer heroics and untimely turnovers by Rockets guard [[Mitchell Wiggins|Mitch Wiggins]]. In a similarly close Game 5 in Houston (under the 2–3–2 format), Sampson succumbed to taunting by Boston's much smaller 6-foot-1 backup guard [[Jerry Sichting]], resulting in Sampson taking a swing and earning an ejection from the game. Strangely, this fired up the Rockets, who won Game 5 by 15 points without him thanks to the inspired play of Olajuwon, [[Jim Petersen]], and Robert "Bobby Jo" Reid. Game 6 went back to Boston with Sampson finding himself again in foul trouble and of little effect against the older and wiser Celtic frontcourt of [[Larry Bird]], [[Kevin McHale (basketball)|Kevin McHale]] and [[Robert Parish]]. After the series, Boston coach KC Jones called the Rockets "the new monsters on the block", with the future looking very bright for the Rockets. During the six-game championship series loss against the Celtics, Sampson averaged 14.8 points on .438 shooting, 9.5 rebounds and 3.3 assists per game.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/playoffs/NBA_1986_finals.html|title=1986 NBA Finals Composite Box Score|publisher=basketballreference.com}}</ref>

In 1987, Sampson signed a $14.4 million contract for six years with the Rockets.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Ralph Sampson Stands Alone at Center of Golden State Rebuilding Program |url=https://apnews.com/article/e8e730c6d45e4dacaede30d21b3df55d |access-date=2023-06-21 |website=AP NEWS |language=en}}</ref> Sampson made the All-Star team in the 1986–87 season, but he played in just 43 games that year. On February 4, 1987, he suffered a major cartilage tear in his left knee against the [[Denver Nuggets]], which happened when his right foot slipped. He wore a knee brace and tried to play on it but left the game soon after. There were reports of him having slipped due to remnants of solvent used to clean off scuffs done on the court by a drill team practicing their show before the game. Sampson was expected to miss six weeks.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Houston Rockets star Ralph Sampson suffered a large cartilage... - UPI Archives |url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1987/02/04/Houston-Rockets-star-Ralph-Sampson-suffered-a-large-cartilage/5197539413200/ |access-date=2023-06-21 |website=UPI |language=en}}</ref> He had arthroscopic surgery and rushed his rehab to make it back for the playoffs, a decision he has stated his regret over.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2012-09-06 |title=What destroyed Sampson's career – OneManFastBreak |url=https://onemanfastbreak.net/the-big-hurt-how-injuries-destroyed-ralph-sampsons-hall-of-fame-career/ |access-date=2023-06-21 |language=en-US}}</ref> In total, he had averaged 15.6 points with 8.7 rebounds and 2.8 assists while only starting in 32 games. That year, the Rockets made it to the Conference Semifinals, with Sampson appearing in each playoff game and averaging over 30 minutes a game, which saw him average over 15 points with eight rebounds. However, the Rockets lost in six games to the [[Seattle SuperSonics]].

Injured nineteen games into the [[1987–88 NBA season|1987–88 season]], Sampson fell out of favor with Rockets coach [[Bill Fitch]].<ref>{{Cite news | url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/sports/1987/12/14/sampson-deal-attributed-to-altercation/1f71df8e-d060-4324-9d51-bd308c7b2c61/ | title=Sampson deal attributed to altercation | newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] | date=1987-12-13}}</ref> He had averaged 15.9 points with 9.1 rebounds and 1.9 assists when he was traded on December 12, 1987, to the [[Golden State Warriors]] alongside reserve [[Steve Harris (basketball)|Steve Harris]] for [[Joe Barry Carroll]], [[Sleepy Floyd]], and cash; like Sampson, Carroll and Floyd had been NBA All-Stars in 1987.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2019-06-18 |title=The Ralph Sampson Trade |url=https://jeffpearlman.com/2019/06/18/the-ralph-sampson-trade/ |access-date=2023-06-21 |website=JeffPearlman.com |language=en-US}}</ref>

===Golden State Warriors (1987–1989)===
{{BLP sources section|date=February 2022}}
Warriors general manager [[Don Nelson]] and coach [[George Karl]] believed that Sampson would be a key center threat for a team that was looking to build upon their 42-win season the previous year but had just a 3–15 record to start the year.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.nytimes.com/1987/12/14/sports/warriors-hopes-center-on-sampson.html | title=Warriors' Hopes Center on Sampson | website=[[The New York Times]] | date=December 14, 1987 | last1=Goldaper | first1=Sam }}</ref>

He played in 29 games for the Warriors while averaging 15.4 points with ten rebounds and 2.9 assists, but he was bothered by his left knee again, which required fluid to be drained out of it that made it less strong than his right knee; the Warriors won just 20 games that year. The following year, he played in 61 games with 36 as a starter, but he averaged just 6.4 points per game with five rebounds. The Warriors made the postseason that year and reached the Semifinals, but Sampson only made appearance in the second round, playing 43 total minutes against the [[Phoenix Suns]]. He scored a total of 20 points with one assist and 14 rebounds in three combined games as the Warriors lost in five games. It was his last playoff appearance. He was traded to the Sacramento Kings on September 27, 1989, for Jim Petersen.

===Sacramento Kings (1989–1991)===
Sampson averaged 6.4 points and 5.0 rebounds with Golden State in [[1988–89 NBA season|1988–89]] and was traded during the offseason to the [[Sacramento Kings]] for [[Jim Petersen]]. Sampson's injury issues continued in Sacramento as he totaled just 51 games in two seasons, averaging 4.2 and 3.0 points, respectively, in 1989–90 and 1990–91.

===Washington Bullets (1991–1992)===
Released by the Kings, Sampson played a 10-game stint with the [[Washington Bullets]] in [[1991–92 NBA season|1991–92]] before being waived. He played 456 games in nine NBA seasons, which was 61.8% of the regular season games scheduled during his tenure.

===Unicaja Ronda (1992)===
Sampson played eight games for [[CB Málaga|Unicaja Ronda]] of the [[Asociación de Clubs de Baloncesto|Spanish League]] during the 1991–92 season.

===Rockford Lightning (1994–1995)===
Sampson also would play for the [[Rockford Lightning]] in the [[Continental Basketball Association]] during the 1994–95 season before ultimately retiring for good.

==Coaching career==
Returning to the United States, Sampson spent the 1992–93 season as an assistant to head coach [[Lefty Driesell]] at [[James Madison University]] before coaching a [[minor league]] professional team in [[Richmond, Virginia]], named the [[Richmond Rhythm]].

In October 2012, Sampson joined the [[Phoenix Suns]]' player development staff.<ref>{{Cite web |date=October 4, 2012 |title=Former Superstar Aligns With the Suns |url=https://www.nba.com/suns/camp/sampson-joins-player-development |access-date=2025-04-09 |website=NBA.com}}</ref> In June 2013, Sampson announced that he would not return as an assistant head coach.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Coro |first1=Paul |title=Mark West, 2 others join Phoenix Suns' staff |url=http://www.azcentral.com/sports/suns/articles/20130612mark-west-others-join-phoenix-suns-staff.html |work=AZCentral.com |date=Jun 12, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130616143525/http://www.azcentral.com/sports/suns/articles/20130612mark-west-others-join-phoenix-suns-staff.html |archive-date=June 16, 2013}}</ref>

==Legacy==
In 1996, Sampson was inducted into the [[Virginia Sports Hall of Fame]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=August 25, 2017 |title=Virginia Sports Hall of Fame: Ralph Sampson |url=https://vasportshof.com/inductee/ralph-sampson/ |access-date=November 12, 2021 |website=vasportshof.com}}</ref> In 2002, he was named to the [[ACC 50th Anniversary men's basketball team]] as one of the 50 greatest players in [[Atlantic Coast Conference]] history and one of only three Virginia Cavaliers so honored.<ref>{{Cite web |date=November 7, 2008 |title=ACC 50th Anniversary Men's Basketball Team |url=http://www.theacc.com/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/092602aaa.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070929102805/http://www.theacc.com/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/092602aaa.html |archive-date=September 29, 2007 |access-date=November 11, 2021 |website=TheACC.com |publisher=[[Atlantic Coast Conference]]}}</ref>

On November 22, 2011, Sampson was inducted into the National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame. In February 2012, Sampson was honored by Houston Rockets and fans as a member of the Decade Team of the 1980s. On April 2, 2012, Sampson was named a member of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame's induction class of 2012.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Ralph Sampson – Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame |url=https://www.hoophall.com/hall-of-famers/ralph-sampson/ |access-date=November 12, 2021 |website=hoophall.com}}</ref>

==Personal life==
Sampson has four children with his ex-wife.<ref name=orton_06202013>{{cite news|first=Kathy|last=Orton|title=Ralph Sampson was 1983's top NBA pick. Where is he now?|date=June 20, 2013|work=The Washington Post Magazine|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/magazine/ralph-sampson-was-1983s-top-nba-pick-where-is-he-now/2013/06/19/4e3cc9bc-cc5c-11e2-8845-d970ccb04497_story.html|access-date=December 13, 2020}}</ref> Their oldest son, [[Ralph Sampson III|Ralph III]], played collegiate basketball for [[Minnesota Golden Gophers men's basketball|Minnesota]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Ralph Sampson III Bio|url=http://www.gophersports.com/sports/m-baskbl/mtt/sampsoniii_ralph00.html|work=GopherSports.com|access-date=April 7, 2015|archive-date=June 12, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612143607/http://www.gophersports.com/sports/m-baskbl/mtt/sampsoniii_ralph00.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> Their younger son, [[Robert Sampson (basketball)|Robert]], transferred to [[Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets men's basketball|Georgia Tech]] after playing his first three seasons (2010–2013) of college basketball for [[East Carolina Pirates men's basketball|East Carolina University]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Robert Sampson |url=http://www.ramblinwreck.com/sports/m-baskbl/mtt/robert_sampson_850567.html |website=Georgia Tech Athletics |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140306221055/http://www.ramblinwreck.com/sports/m-baskbl/mtt/robert_sampson_850567.html |archive-date=March 6, 2014}}</ref> They have two daughters: Rachel, who graduated from Stanford University and worked at [[ESPN]], and Anna.<ref name=orton_06202013/>

Sampson has four other children with four women,<ref name=orton_06202013/> including daughters named Leah and India.<ref>{{cite news|title=Studio 3.6 in Charlottesville is Team AFP Belk Bowl Sponsor|date=December 18, 2018|newspaper=Augusta Free Press|url=https://augustafreepress.com/studio-3-6-in-charlottesville-is-team-afp-belk-bowl-sponsor/|access-date=December 13, 2020}}</ref>

Sampson is the cousin of former NBA player, [[Jamal Sampson]].<ref>[http://www.nba.com/playerfile/jamal_sampson/bio.html Jamal Sampson] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070116182427/http://www.nba.com/playerfile/jamal_sampson/bio.html |date=January 16, 2007 }} at NBA.com</ref>

Reflecting on his career and its three knee surgeries, Sampson admitted that he had attempted to come back too quickly from them, and said that he tried not to think about what could have been.

===Legal issues===
In 2005, Sampson pleaded guilty to owing more than $300K in back child support for two children from different mothers in the Northern Virginia area. In 2006, he was sentenced to two months in prison for mail fraud associated with the purchase of an SUV.<ref>"[http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/14702180/ Ralph Sampson jailed for mail fraud] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121130024501/http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/14702180|date=November 30, 2012}}". NBC Sports. Retrieved on July 22, 2012.</ref> In 2011, he was arrested and jailed in Gwinnett County, Georgia for having a suspended license and for an open arrest warrant on charges of failing to pay child support.<ref name=orton_06202013/>

==Awards==
* [[Naismith College Player of the Year]] (1981–1983)
* [[Oscar Robertson Trophy|USBWA College Player of the Year]] (1981–1983)
* [[Adolph Rupp Trophy]] (1981–1983)
* [[Associated Press College Basketball Player of the Year|Associated Press Player of the Year]] (1981–1983)
* [[UPI College Basketball Player of the Year|UPI Player of the Year]] (1981–1983)
* [[John R. Wooden Award]] (1982–1983)
* [[NABC Player of the Year]] (1982–1983)
* Golden Plate Award of the [[Academy of Achievement|American Academy of Achievement]] presented by Awards Council member [[Herschel Walker]] (1982)<ref>{{cite web|title= Golden Plate Awardees of the American Academy of Achievement |website=Achievement.org|publisher=[[American Academy of Achievement]]|url= https://achievement.org/our-history/golden-plate-awards/#sports}}</ref>
* [[Sporting News Men's College Basketball Player of the Year|'' Sporting News'' Player of the Year]] (1983)
* Co-[[Helms Foundation College Basketball Player of the Year]] (1982)<ref>{{cite news|last=Moore|first=David Leon|title=Lakers 'settle' for Worthy as No.1 section in NBA draft|date=June 30, 1982 |newspaper=The Sun|pages=C-1, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/49911779/worthy-helms-foundation-player-othe-year/ C-4]|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/50060174/|access-date=May 2, 2020|via=[[Newspapers.com]]|quote=Worthy, who averaged 15.6 points last season, was named first-team all-America by just about everybody in the picking business and was named co-college player of the year (along with Sampson) by the First Interstate Bank Athletic Foundation (formerly the Helms Foundation).}}</ref>
* [[NBA Rookie of the Year Award|NBA Rookie of the Year]] (1984)
* [[NBA All-Rookie Team]] (1984)
* [[NBA All-Star Game MVP]] (1985)
* [[NBA All-Star Game|NBA All-Star]] (1984–1987)
* [[All-NBA Second Team]] selection (1985)
* [[National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame]] inductee (2011)
* [[Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame]] inductee (2012)

==Career statistics==
{{NBA player statistics legend}}

===NBA===

====Regular season====
{{NBA player statistics start}}
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|{{nbay|1983}}
| style="text-align:left;"|[[1983–84 Houston Rockets season|Houston]]
| '''82''' || '''82''' || 32.8 || '''.523''' || .250 || .661 || '''11.1''' || 2.0 || .9 || '''2.4''' || 21.0
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|{{nbay|1984}}
| style="text-align:left;"|[[1984–85 Houston Rockets season|Houston]]
| '''82''' || '''82''' || '''37.6''' || .502 || .000 || .676 || 10.4 || 2.7 || 1.0 || 2.0 || '''22.1'''
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|{{nbay|1985}}
| style="text-align:left;"|[[1985–86 Houston Rockets season|Houston]]
|| 79 || 76 || 36.3 || .488 || .133 || .641 || '''11.1''' || '''3.6''' || '''1.3''' || 1.6 || 18.9
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|{{nbay|1986}}
| style="text-align:left;"|[[1986–87 Houston Rockets season|Houston]]
| 43 || 32 || 30.8 || .489 || .000 || .624 || 8.7 || 2.8 || .9 || 1.3 || 15.6
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|{{nbay|1987}}
| style="text-align:left;"|[[1987–88 Houston Rockets season|Houston]]
| 19 || 19 || 37.1 || .439 || .333 || .741 || 9.1 || 1.9 || .9 || 1.7 || 15.9
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|{{nbay|1987}}
| style="text-align:left;"|[[1987–88 Golden State Warriors season|Golden State]]
| 29 || 25 || 33.0 || .438 || .000 || '''.775''' || 10.0 || 2.9 || .8 || 1.9 || 15.4
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|{{nbay|1988}}
| style="text-align:left;"|[[1988–89 Golden State Warriors season|Golden State]]
| 61 || 36 || 17.8 || .449 || '''.375''' || .653 || 5.0 || 1.3 || .5 || 1.1 || 6.4
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|{{nbay|1989}}
| style="text-align:left;"|[[1989–90 Sacramento Kings season|Sacramento]]
| 26 || 7 || 16.0 || .372 || .250 || .522 || 3.2 || 1.1 || .5 || .8 || 4.2
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|{{nbay|1990}}
| style="text-align:left;"|[[1990–91 Sacramento Kings season|Sacramento]]
| 25 || 4 || 13.9 || .366 || .200 || .263 || 4.4 || .7 || .4 || .7 || 3.0
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|{{nbay|1991}}
| style="text-align:left;"|[[1991–92 Washington Bullets season|Washington]]
| 10 || 0 || 10.8 || .310 || .000 || .667 || 3.0 || .4 || .3 || .8 || 2.2
|- class="sortbottom"
| style="text-align:center;" colspan="2"|Career
| 456 || 363 || 29.8 || .486 || .172 || .661 || 8.8 || 2.3 || .9 || 1.6 || 15.4
|- class="sortbottom"
| style="text-align:center;" colspan="2"|All-Star
| 3 || 2 || 22.0 || .636 || {{sort|-|—}} || .700 || 6.3 || .7 || .0 || .3 || 16.3
{{s-end}}

====Playoffs====
{{NBA player statistics start}}
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|[[1985 NBA playoffs|1985]]
| style="text-align:left;"|[[1984–85 Houston Rockets season|Houston]]
| 5 || 5 || '''38.6''' || .430 || '''1.000''' || .514 || '''16.6''' || 1.4 || .4 || 1.6 || '''21.2'''
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|[[1986 NBA playoffs|1986]]
| style="text-align:left;"|[[1985–86 Houston Rockets season|Houston]]
| '''20''' || '''20''' || 37.1 || '''.518''' || '''1.000''' || .729 || 10.8 || '''4.0''' || '''1.5''' || '''1.8''' || 20.0
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|[[1987 NBA playoffs|1987]]
| style="text-align:left;"|[[1986–87 Houston Rockets season|Houston]]
| 10 || 10 || 33.0 || .514 || .500 || '''.814''' || 8.8 || 2.1 || .2 || 1.2 || 18.6
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|[[1989 NBA playoffs|1989]]
| style="text-align:left;"|[[1988–89 Golden State Warriors season|Golden State]]
| 3 || 1 || 14.3 || .409 || .000 || .500 || 4.7 || .3 || .3 || .7 || 6.7
|- class="sortbottom"
| style="text-align:center;" colspan="2"|Career
| 38 || 36 || 34.4 || .497 || .375 || .703 || 10.5 || 2.9 || .9 || 1.5 || 18.7
{{s-end}}

===College===
{{NBA player statistics start}}
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|[[1979–80 NCAA Division I men's basketball season|1979–80]]
| style="text-align:left;"|[[1979–80 Virginia Cavaliers men's basketball team|Virginia]]
| 34 || {{sort|-|—}} || 29.9 || .547 || {{sort|-|—}} || .702 || 11.2 || 1.1 || .8 || 4.6 || 14.9
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|[[1980–81 NCAA Division I men's basketball season|1980–81]]
| style="text-align:left;"|[[1980–81 Virginia Cavaliers men's basketball team|Virginia]]
| 33 || 31 || 32.0 || .557 || {{sort|-|—}} || .631 || 11.5 || 1.5 || .8 || 3.1 || 17.7
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|[[1981–82 NCAA Division I men's basketball season|1981–82]]
| style="text-align:left;"|[[1981–82 Virginia Cavaliers men's basketball team|Virginia]]
| 32 || 31 || 31.3 || .561 || {{sort|-|—}} || .615 || 11.4 || 1.2 || .6 || 3.1 || 15.8
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|[[1982–83 NCAA Division I men's basketball season|1982–83]]
| style="text-align:left;"|[[1982–83 Virginia Cavaliers men's basketball team|Virginia]]
| 33 || 33 || 30.2 || .604 || {{sort|-|—}} || .704 || 11.7 || 1.0 || .6 || 3.1 || 19.0
{{s-end}}

==See also==
* [[List of NBA single-game blocks leaders]]
* [[List of tallest players in NBA history]]
* [[List of NCAA Division I men's basketball players with 2000 points and 1000 rebounds]]
*[[List of All-Atlantic Coast Conference men's basketball teams]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Bibliography==
*University of Virginia Basketball Media Guide (PDF copy available at [http://www.virginiasports.com www.virginiasports.com])

==External links==
* {{Basketballstats |nba=78055 |bbr=s/sampsra01}}
* NBA Draft Profile [http://www.thedraftreview.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1645/ TheDraftReview.com]

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