The original wemby

@hgm38

5 ай бұрын

Say it again,I tell younger people that 👊🏽

@conduitofthegospeldarrellb9154

5 ай бұрын

Sampson & Kareem

@1017squirrel

5 ай бұрын

U right!!! 😎

@vatoloco6738

5 ай бұрын

Couldn’t shoot 3s tho….

@conduitofthegospeldarrellb9154

5 ай бұрын

@@vatoloco6738 could. Different era tho he’d be benched

Ralph Sampson was a dominant college player figure before being drafted 1st overall by the Houston Rockets in 1983. He was the tallest player on the court with his 7 foot 4 frame at center/power forward position. He used his height to his advantage before the injuries took a toll on his body. At least, he made the Basketball Hall of Fame

He was fantastic. He hurt his back in the Lakers series and was never the same afterwards. It led to knee problems. He had to re-learn how to run. What a shame

Ralph was so good Hakeem was his Robin /role player

@moneyman4740

5 ай бұрын

Not at all , neither were robin they were a duo that at that time were at the same level as far as talents , sampson was better offensively tho but Hakeem was better defensively and rebounding wise , both could do either at an elite level tho

Great player before injuries

I distinctly remember the incredible build-up and anticipation when in college he met Georgetown and Patrick Ewing

@Redwood65

2 ай бұрын

Hell yeah. I loved that. Good call.

@missayawk

2 ай бұрын

That Sports Illustrated cover.

Sampson is the guy we don't want Wemby or Chet to turn into. Such a great young career from HS to the NBA finals ruined by injuries.

@lordgodspeed1539

5 ай бұрын

Everything you say I agree with . It's sad it's just that guys at that height are so prone to more injuries, it's like any answers extra above 7 ft 2 are more prone to injuries and I almost guaranteed a short career look at Yao Ming 😮‍💨

@goddycarino6747

3 ай бұрын

The way Wembenyama plays most probably he'll become like Sampson and those injuries, bc Wemby like to play point guard, forward center, if you are a center play like a center

He was before his time

That's the thing a lot of new age guys who consider Ralph a "bust" in the NBA don't realize....in his short prime, that was only about 5 years, he was a 4X All Star and ASG MVP with a Finals appearance -in the 80's era at the height of Lakers/Celtics dominance. That was the perceived ceiling for Ralph coming into the league....he was widely thought to have the potential to be the greatest center of all time...... because if 4 AS appearances, a Finals appearance and an ASG MVP, all in 5 years, is considered a "bust?" Then his potential was ENORMOUS.

VA's finest!

@user-kn2qh2tl5g

3 ай бұрын

Opposite ends of the state, but from a talent standpoint, Ralph and Allen are probably the best 1-2 combo any state has ever produced.

HALL OF FAMER 💥💥💥💥💥Ralph Sampson

I would love to see a profile on the late Wayman Tisdale. RIP WT🙏

@lucashenderson2775

5 ай бұрын

Speaking of music Rony Seikaly would also be a good one too. He had a solid if not spectacular career and has led a real interesting life after basketball as a DJ who's played clubs worldwide.

@johnr.7906

5 ай бұрын

Yes he was great - shame he passed so young.

Sampson's NBA career was basically 7 years before injuries got him and that's what I'm afraid will happen with VW. The Spurs are taking all sorts of preventative measures to keep his feet and ankles strong and flexible but when you're that tall and lanky a game like basketball is really tough on you because of all the cutting, jumping and all sorts of maneuvers you make. Bill Walton is a great example of that. 7 footers have a long history of all sorts of health issues.

@laviebanale

2 ай бұрын

History is NOT Wemby’s side. But w/ today’s sissy game who knows.

He’d thrive in today’s zero contact NBA. It’s that reason many believe Wembanyama will ball out. Especially as he puts on weight.

Injuries is a mother F Ralph was Nice 💯

Biggest WHAT IF’s of the “golden era” 1. Len Bias (RIP) 2. Ralph Sampson (injury) 3. Reggie Lewis (RIP) 4. Penny Hardaway (injury) 5. Magic Johnson (injury/sick) 6. Larry Birds (injury) 7. Jordan to POR in 84’ draft 8. Benji Wilson (RIP) 9. Larry Johnson (injury) 10. Hank Gathers (RIP)

@alexanderpopov4691

5 ай бұрын

G. Hill (injury) N. Galis (contract) - Boston in late 80s with Bias and Galis + allready aquired stars - probably the greatest dinasty to never happen.

@conduitofthegospeldarrellb9154

5 ай бұрын

@@alexanderpopov4691 IDK how I missed Galis, YOUNG Sabonis (Jokic with shot blocking and dunking) and Petrovic but they’re honorable mentions. Would’ve changed the decade.

@alexanderpopov4691

5 ай бұрын

@@conduitofthegospeldarrellb9154 Yes, I remember Sabonis very well, he was my very favourite European player in his prime. He was also very athletic on par with NBA players of that time before the damn injury.

@jasonwolfe3252

5 ай бұрын

Danny Manning.

@eb5857

5 ай бұрын

What if Kobe goes to Charlotte

Thank you for doing a video about Ralph Sampson, he deserves it. It sucks that injuries ruined his career and deserves his props and to be talked about.

Kareem and Ralph Sampson would've been CRAZY...

This was my favorite one yet the best what if in NBA History I believe he stayed in College 2 years 2 long. Just think he was in the Dunk Contest in 83 moving around like a 6’6 Forward. He was definitely a power forward not a center for that era of Basketball

Ralph Sampson was more heralded than Wemby.

❤ Ralph Sampson

Yessir! But this what makes me weary about Wemby, players 7’3 or taller that’s been an All-Star or ALL-NBA, they never lasted longer than 9 seasons.

@moneyman4740

5 ай бұрын

Wemby is way more mobile and agile than all these guys

@camiamproducer

5 ай бұрын

@@moneyman4740 Sampson had the ability to take it all 94 ft too, but keep in mind the context. Wemby grew up watching KD, that’s what he applied to his game. And that really doesn’t matter, all the running, jumping, cutting, awkward falls can catch up to his frame

A healthy Ralph Sampson for a decade would have most likely become an NBA champion and ARGUABLY the best Center in the league, or at least in the running with Ewing, Olujuwon and Robinson. Would be interested to see you do profile on Latrell Sprewell, Andrew Toney, Sam Jones, Jo Jo White and Gail Goodrich. Appreciate all the content thus far!

@Master-Wanderer

5 ай бұрын

Very Interested!!! All great players!!!

17:00 I was born in Seattle in 1973, where I grew up. Sonics and Blazers fan. Japanese-American and male. From 1984-1989, I didn't pay attention to the NBA, which is fine, because it was Boston Boston Lakers Lakers EVERY year, championship hogs! I HATE the Lakers, Boston, Phoenix, and Utah. So, when I got back into the NBA in late 1989-90, I saw that Ralph Sampson played about 20 games, and barely played with Sacramento. I used to wonder, "Did Ralph have an actual major knee injury, or was it a buildup thing that got worse?" Someone told me that they were surprised that I didn't know about this injury at Boston. Now I know. Also, I am honestly amazed that he has some great dunks as a WARRIOR! I mean, he got traded from Houston, because he was already so damaged. You see a Sacramento highlight where he blocks Pat Ewing, but it's painfully clear that Sampson couldn't jump at ALL, by the time he was a King.

Ralph's story makes me worried for Wemby, knock on wood! Great video Bro, keep up the great work!

Didn't know he could have went to the Lakers. Sampson, Jabbar and Magic would have been insane

Thank you 😊

Saw the man play 7 quarters straight once.

First 4 years 🔥 but super decline unfortunately. His college accomplishments is what got him to HOF

@billblaski9523

5 ай бұрын

First 3 years, his 4th year is when the injuries started...😢

Big Z next

A couple things that were missed here. John Lucas left Houston in 1986 because of drug problems. Also another big reason why the 87 Rockets struggled was once again drug issues, as Lewis Lloyd and Mitchell Wiggins were banned from the NBA

Love your content bro. You think you could do one of Joe Johnson?

yo i know he just retired n you do older careers normally but he definitely got forgotten while he was active so i think it fits your channel concept still. i need you to do a Lou Williams video cuz Sweet Lou got as good an argument as ANYBODY for the best 6 man of all time n he mine. he forgotten sorta but damn near legendary in philly to anyone once you remind them about em. ppl dont name him immediately but if you do first , everyone gon say how much they love dude. he was my favorite sixer in 2010 and then was why the hawks beat the sixers in 2021. mad underrated

I was very young when Sampson played but I remember people saying that he was never the same after the big fall he took against the Celtics. Sampson's wingspan must be monstrous. I wish the NBA recorded physical stats, aside from just height and weight, like it does now.

I grew up in Houston and I definitely remember when Ralph Sampson was drafted out of Virginia. He was a pretty good player and had potential to become a really good player but he was not even a tenth of the athlete that Hakeem Olajuwon was. I'm not trying to put him down because the two towers was a pretty amazing run for Houston but once they figured out that they had to make olajuwon the key to their team they started to take off. Ralph was like Sam Bowie and so many other tall skinny guys. He was always hurt and his career was cut short. Victor is a much better athlete and moves in a way that Ralph Sampson never moved.

Ralph Sampson was the 2nd biggest ‘what if’. Len Bias was the biggest. If those two guys would have stayed healthy (and alive) Jordan would have been an afterthought. Sampson and Hakeem had already gone to the finals with a team that needed better shooters and guard play.

After that fight with 6'1" Jerry Sichting, I considered him kind of Cowardly. Never respected him after that shit.

Would’ve loved to see a healthy Ralph Sampson play with Run TMC . If he was healthy, that would’ve been the piece that team was missing, a big man that could score and block shots . He would’ve had freedom to play his game in Nelly’s system that he wouldn’t had anywhere else .

As a Lakers fan…I’m glad that coin flip turn to James Worthy…he turned out to have a bigger impact than Sampson would have had

@moneyman4740

5 ай бұрын

They wasnt even the same draft , they both went #1 im confused as to how they have anything to do with the other

@ssmagicmark849

Ай бұрын

Ralph could have declared for the 82 draft after his junior season, but decided not to. Also interesting to consider that the Lakers could have picked Dominique at #1 instead.

Nobody was hardly filming high school players in the late 70’s, back when Sampson was in HS…just that alone told you he was something special if someone went through all the trouble to film him back in the day when camera equipment was bulky…not like today when you just take out your smartphone and shoot

Lol its crazy just how many "what-if" players there are. Ralph Samson is definitely one, i forgot all about him!

The what if of him going to the Lakers in 1982 is fascinating to me and one of the more underrated ones.

Can you cover Lenny Wilkens?

Can you do sidney moncrief

make one about Kenyon Martin

That kid on the spurs first time I saw him I thought Ralph maybe his dad until I saw his name he could be what Ralph would be into today's game but Ralph was better at the same age he played against future superstars McHale, Jordan , Perkins basically the whole NC team and other college which had 4 yr players unheard of today

I think I think another underrated Center that doesn't get a lot of shine is Eric Dampier. Arguably one of (if not) the best prolific offensive rebounders in NBA history.

@jamespohl-md2eq

4 ай бұрын

There isn’t any argument for being one of the best, let alone the best. He is 48th all time. Not including all the power forwards on the list, the centers w more are: Moses, Artis, Chief, Shaq, Dwight, Hakeem, Mutumbo, Issel, Drummond, Chandler, Kg, Jordan, Admiral, Kareem, Jones, Vlade, Daniels, Laimbeer, Ewing, and Polynice.

Dude looks like wemby

@Docfly62

3 ай бұрын

You mean Wemby looks like him

Do one on Metta World Peace aka Ron Artest

But if it weren’t for him they wouldn’t have Clyde and for that championship, so thanks Ralph

H Town Twin Tower Forever ❤ Baby

Al Horton's dad Tito at 26:44

HIs biggest mistake was staying in college for so long . He outsmarted himself, he should have went into the 1981 or 82 draft . He wasted his athleticism in college 😮‍💨. All in all at the height of his powers he is my favorite 7 footer of all times 🏀

@moneyman4740

5 ай бұрын

He came out at 22-23 he didnt know he would reach his athletic peak in college , that doesnt happen until mid to late 20’s , realistically his best athletic days should have still been ahead of him

(the first Victor!) That's now in the NBA..

@moneyman4740

5 ай бұрын

Not the 1st victor

@Ira.J712

5 ай бұрын

@@moneyman4740 you don't think? Who would you say remind you of Victor

Sampson was a talent ...no doubt...his NBA career was cut a little short. Dude played 4 seasons in College & never completely turned it in pros...because he wasn't great.....he had 4 or 5 healthy seasons in the NBA...he wasn't awesome....very good yeah. Ralph was Ralph.

neutron proxy vs neutron watt would have been a better comp.

i had no idea ralph was on the 89 warriors with mitch and mullin

I’m hoping for fat lever antonio msdyess Carlos boozer Deron Williams or Antwan Jamison next

do jeff lamp

Do Manute Bol.

I guess Kareem's hook shot can be blocked.

if i was coach woulda been like akeem gets 20 shots rest to ralf

Nah man, the biggest what if remains Len Bias, imho. But Sampson would have left his palm print for sure in the Bird VS Magic era, if he managed to stay healthy. Let's hope for the Spurs that Wembanyama doesn't have knees as bad... Like, the french unicorn is currently their most valuable chip to get away from the suck zone...

He was so fast player injuries non stop finished his career earlier he could play to end 90s houston could won more titles

Wemby yama

We gotta stop lying. Sampson WAS NOT 7'4". He was maybe 7'2".

@Mr_Mack88

5 ай бұрын

Yeah and they’re also lying about Hakeem’s height cause he wasn’t 7’0” tall, he even said in interview that he was closer to 6’10”. I think he would know how tall he is and the NBA just be lying about players height, especially when they are playing with another tall player who is 7’0” or taller. They try and market it as a seven foot duo when one of them isn’t even seven foot, just almost seven feet tall.

@moneyman4740

5 ай бұрын

@@Mr_Mack88i use to think Hakeem was shorter but look at him and Giannis over the summer , same height and Giannis is a legit 6’11

@elohim77

5 ай бұрын

I loved watching the twin towers as a kid but sampson IS more like 7'1/2 and hakeem is like 6'10.

Ralph and Sam Bowie were similar. Both had great skills.

He wasnt 7'4, he is more like 7'1

This was before Giannis Antetokounmpo, Ralph Sampson the top player during that time

the original ALIEN Wemby before Wemby too bad we were robbed because of injury

So does this mean next year Spurs are gonna get a top pick to pair up with Wemby and instantly become title contenders?

sam bowie lol what hasppened to that martian?

I don't see how he got POTY 3 times in a row, he had subpar stats to be the biggest player on the court

@wizard1687

5 ай бұрын

No shot clock yet.

Knocked dat whyTe bOi

With today's modern medical surgeries & rehabilitation methods Ralph could of bounced back even better, but it just wasn't meant to be. Still an incredible player!!

If Ralph stayed healthy, Hakeem would've won more than 2 chips

He was the kevin Durant of his time , if he had gone to Lakers he would top 3 greatest of all time he could go between his legs dribbling if he played in today's game superstar he was to thin for then he would be a PF but he could run shoot and on college every year they might loose 1 to NC which would go 4 corners to shot clock but think off his cavs team in college who else went pro , he stayed 4 years , if he had went to a college with more talent say NC or team up the Patrick at G.T maybe 4 titles , but go back watch he was 7/4 Kevin Durant

@richardyoon4209

3 ай бұрын

There is like zero similarities between KD and Ralph other than them being 7ft'ers. KD is an outside and 3 point shooter, Ralph was not.

Sampson had a few good years when he got into the NBA, but he was too finesse! He was thin and didn't like contact. He was comfortable shooting mid range jumpers.Needed to lift weights but never did.

6:37 hmmm i wonder how many bricks by non sampson players? LOL as coauch would be liek samopson takes all shots ifdouble then dunk or very short shot

Biggest what if is Len Bias.

700 sampson needed to goto hole more

Ralph Sampson was better than Wemby hands down!

@moneyman4740

5 ай бұрын

No

colleg coach: ok guards shoot fuck giving it ot eh 7-4 dude for 5 foor shot around basket!! lol me: guard iif u shoot u off the team lol unless layup or dunk hek get rida guards n just have all big guys n throw ball down court lol

he ddint get the refs helping like kareem did

Arvydas Sabonis in his prime was better and he could return from his injury

Yes the Original Wemby better rebounder

@moneyman4740

5 ай бұрын

Wemby is better at a number of other things such as defense on the perimeter and rim protection , also a better shooter and ballhandler and Wemby is a hell of a rebounder as well

The sad news was....Sampson was drastically overated in College....i'm not hating on Ralph....i loved the ACC in College Hoops back then, but his height & athleticism & skills overshadowed his actual game. His production wasn't really ever that great. * He never really improved much in 4 years of College....seriously....I know they gave him Player of the Year like 3 times in a row....but Ralph never improved in College. Look at his stats

Sampson was no more agile than Kareem at the same age.

He was never a winner like Sabonis or Walton - a what if but not THE what if

When a player is OBVIOUSLY battling injuries... how is it that they get labeled as "soft" or lacking killer instinct? Is nothing more than a lazy misleading narrative.

He was not 7'4"...he was 7'2". Sabonis was taller than him. And Sampson was overrated. In his best 3 seasons 1983-1985...there was no special numbers from him. Not too many rebounds not too many points. Hakeem was way better

@FuShengAlex

5 ай бұрын

Without Ralphs presence, Hakeem would've had to guard Kareem 1 on 1 and it would've been a continuation of the schoolings Kareem put on him to date. Because he was shorter and lacked positional defensive experience. They likely don't beat the Lakers without that switch. When Ralph guarded Kareem it allowed Hakeem to roam, he wreaked absolute havoc on LA defensively.

@MrJbee73

5 ай бұрын

If you watched him then you would have seen his skillet. They way he ran the floor and dunked nasty. And could pass. He had very high level athleticism.

@moneyman4740

5 ай бұрын

@@FuShengAlexkareem by 86 was damn near washed , Hakeem woulda never had to deal with prime kareem either way

@camaradiop3731

3 ай бұрын

​@@moneyman4740 Your recollection of Abdul-Jabbar is wanting. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar ate up BOTH Sampson and Olajuwon, before the Rockets' coach lit a fire under them both by ridiculing the Twin Towers, leading to an ameliorated production by the tall talented tandem. Mr. Abdul-Jabbar was NO JOKE for a LONG TIME; the Celtics, like you, said he was done and paid for it when Abdul-Jabbar dropped 26 points and 16 rebounds on them. Ralph Sampson was A BEAST; I was there; I haven't seen anyone that tall (7' range) as versatile as the aptly surnamed SAMPSON.

PEOPLE ONLY LOVE U WHEN EVERY THING GOING WELL WHEN SOMETHING HAPPEN LIKE SAMPSON HE GOT HURT . MAN OR WOMAN WILL STAB YOU IN THE BACK !!!!!!!!!! JESUS IS THE ONLY ONE WHO WILL NEVER STAB. YOU IN THE BACK !!!!!!!!! PERIOD!!!!!🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏 JESUS🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏JESUS🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏