Did Ralph Sampson have GOAT Potential

[anthonyRandolph]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jgDJbb8bMhM

Sad to see this guys career get derailed by injuries, 7'4'' and could dribble though, unreal man. May never see another talent like this.:applause:

[Smook A.]

I didn't get to see him play in his prime but I heard he was a really really talented player. Watched a lot of YouTube clips of him and I gotta agree. Him and Hakeem would've done a lot of damage if he didn't get injured. One of the big 'what could've beens"

[Im Still Ballin]

He could be argued, yes he did have GOAT potential. What separates at the elite level is however, the intangibles, work ethic, and desire. And I guess maturity. Imagine how easy it would be to slack off with so much money.

[j3lademaster]

Man, whenever I see Ralph Sampson highlights I always wonder that. I mean we were salivating over Embiid as a prospect... this guy is taller and seems even more agile to me, and he's got ball skills? Really hope someone knowledgable of the early-mid 80's era comes in and drops some on this guy. There's too much the highlights don't tell us: did he take plays off? How often? Was he actually good at positioning for rebounds or was the 21/11 as a rookie purely based on his length? How did the casual fan view him? How hyped was he coming into the league? etc.

[G.O.A.T]

Man, whenever I see Ralph Sampson highlights I always wonder that. I mean we were salivating over Embiid as a prospect... this guy is taller and seems even more agile to me, and he's got ball skills? Really hope someone knowledgable of the early-mid 80's era comes in and drops some on this guy. There's too much the highlights don't tell us: did he take plays off? How often? Was he actually good at positioning for rebounds or was the 21/11 as a rookie purely based on his length? How did the casual fan view him? How hyped was he coming into the league? etc.

Ralph Sampson (http://www.insidehoops.com/forum/showpost.php?p=10379392&postcount=131)

[JimmyMcAdocious]

He had one of the biggest recruitments in high school history and was considered to be an alltime college great by the time he left. So kind of hyped.

Could never win the big one tho.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N1vX9z3remU

[Psileas]

Apart from his running and jumping ability, an interesting article here mentions he was freakishly strong for his built, too, although Jerry Sichting some years later would disagree:

http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1817&dat=19800203&id=vAgdAAAAIBAJ&sjid=5p4EAAAAIBAJ&pg=6812,418839

[CavaliersFTW]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jgDJbb8bMhM

Sad to see this guys career get derailed by injuries, 7'4'' and could dribble though, unreal man. May never see another talent like this.:applause:
Technically he was 7 foot 1 not 7 foot 4. But yeah great body control for that size. Not a better talent than Kareem IMO though, who was even taller, nor was he a better talent than Wilt who was the same height but way stronger.

[G.O.A.T]

Technically he was 7 foot 1 not 7 foot 4. But yeah great body control for that size. Not a better talent than Kareem IMO though, who was even taller, nor was he a better talent than Wilt who was the same height but way stronger.

7'1" ?

Seems impossible. He always looked as tall or taller than the 7'3" Kareem. Some will say Kareem is 7'2" or 7'1", but he was at least 7'3" according to anyone I know who has meet him in person and surely looked at least that tall on the court.

[CavaliersFTW]

7'1" ?

Seems impossible. He always looked as tall or taller than the 7'3" Kareem. Some will say Kareem is 7'2" or 7'1", but he was at least 7'3" according to anyone I know who has meet him in person and surely looked at least that tall on the court.
Without shoes mind you, and it could be 7-1 and change but either way he's in the 7-1 ballpark. 7-1 without shoes ballpark is REALLY TALL. Most players who list as 7 footers aren't 7 foot, it's really rare to be 7-1, that's Hasheem Thabeet's height for reference, the current tallest player in the NBA measured through draftexpress (7-1 and 1/4). He towers over most of the other "7 footers" in the league.

http://youtu.be/Y_k-U6SwRlo?t=58s

Mark Eaton, who is 7-3 and 3/4 barefoot by self admission estimated Sampson to be about 7-1. When you look at pics of him and Eaton vs say, him and Kareem (a guy known to be 7-1 and 7/8ths) you can tell Sampson is def closer to the ballpark height of Kareem and def not Eaton. I only like to make comparisons with players who's height is known, so those are the two best reference points.

[G.O.A.T]

Without shoes mind you, and it could be 7-1 and change but either way he's in the 7-1 ballpark. 7-1 without shoes ballpark is REALLY TALL. Most players who list as 7 footers aren't 7 foot, it's really rare to be 7-1, that's Hasheem Thabeet's height for reference, the current tallest player in the NBA measured through draftexpress (7-1 and 1/4). He towers over most of the other "7 footers" in the league.

http://youtu.be/Y_k-U6SwRlo?t=58s

Mark Eaton, who is 7-3 and 3/4 barefoot by self admission estimated Sampson to be about 7-1. When you look at pics of him and Eaton vs say, him and Kareem (a guy known to be 7-1 and 7/8ths) you can tell Sampson is def closer to the ballpark height of Kareem and def not Eaton. I only like to make comparisons with players who's height is known, so those are the two best reference points.

Good info, thank you.

Stands to reason, perhaps Sampson looked taller because of his thin frame and long limbs.

What are your thoughts on Walton's actual height based ont he information available. When I met him (I'm 6'6" 7/8ths shoeless) I thought he was probably around 7'1" but I've also heard he has shrunk an inch or so since his playing days because of the foot surgeries.

[SexSymbol]

Every player plays out up to his potential.

[Psileas]

Height-wise:

Sampson looking a bit shorter than Kareem here:
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/A2P2E66CUAAuz31.jpg

and marginally taller here, but we don't get to see their whole stature, plus, their bending heads may mislead:
http://www1.pictures.zimbio.com/gi/Charles+Barkley+Basketball+Hall+Fame+Enshrinement+ tjTgBVCLr8al.jpg

Note also their age difference, Kareem is 13 years older.

[Smoke117]

No. Hakeem was already better than him his rookie season. Ralph Sampson was too soft as a big man to ever have GOAT potential. He wasn't really that great even before injuries sidelined his career. He was a good player...but GOAT potential? He had a couple healthy years and he frankly was nothing special. It wasn't like Kareem coming into the NBA and instantly already being one of the best players in the league.

[JellyBean]

Without a doubt, Sampson had GOAT potential. Those of us that grew up in the 70s and 80s, saw Ralph play, whenever NBC showed their games, which was usually during a tournament. Ralph's college years, the dude was a beast. However, that old saying of "Hard work beats talent, when talent does not work hard" applied to Ralph. His knee injuries did not do him any favors as well. But Ralph had the potential to become a GOAT.

I mean for a 7'3-7'4 big, he was a KG, a Tim Duncan, a Dirk. Ralph could take you out to the short corner and drill that base line jumper. He had the handles to put the ball on the floor and drive by a traditional post player. He could play the perimeter like a wing player does now. He had those skills.

[Stringer Bell]

GOAT?

I don't know about that. Very possible HOFer though if not for the injuries.

[CavaliersFTW]

GOAT?

I don't know about that. Very possible HOFer though if not for the injuries.
:biggums:

He's already in the HOF...

[Stringer Bell]

Wow, didn't know that.

Really surprised that someone with only 3 good pro seasons, no titles or MVPs, would be in the HOF.

Obviously they took his Virginia career into account

[JellyBean]

Wow, didn't know that.

Really surprised that someone with only 3 good pro seasons, no titles or MVPs, would be in the HOF.

Obviously they took his Virginia career into account

I think so. However, it was a pretty sure bet that he was HOF bound from his high school days as well as college. I mean he was that good. I think one of the legends from back in the day, predicted that Ralph would become the next Bill Russell. He turned the Virginia Cavs into a powerhouse in the ACC. Ralph was that good. I just wished that he was more tougher and not have glass knees.

[HomieWeMajor]

At a rumored 7'5 he had the skillset to do it all.

[CavaliersFTW]

At a rumored 7'5 he had the skillset to do it all.
aka realistically 7-1 and change but slender enough to pass off as taller :lol

[G.O.A.T]

aka realistically 7-1 and change but slender enough to pass off as taller :lol

Where was that measurement from lol

You don't deserve to be second guessed, you do an amazing job of compiling the video history of the game, but where are those measurements from and are there none that differ?

Just watched the '85 series game five versus the Jazz, Sampson looks as tall as Eaton...

Seriously though, you know more than me about this, I just can't reconcile him not being taller than Kareem who I "know" is 7'3" in shoes.

Also any thoughts or numbers regarding Walton's height? Sorry to pester.

[CavaliersFTW]

Where was that measurement from lol

You don't deserve to be second guessed, you do an amazing job of compiling the video history of the game, but where are those measurements from and are there none that differ?

Just watched the '85 series game five versus the Jazz, Sampson looks as tall as Eaton...

Seriously though, you know more than me about this, I just can't reconcile him not being taller than Kareem who I "know" is 7'3" in shoes.

Also any thoughts or numbers regarding Walton's height? Sorry to pester.
https://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/377698_386463934759138_778065813_n.jpg

As I've stated it's from knowing the measurements of Mark Eaton, and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. Look at pics of them standing next to each other. Not just one or two either, get a good idea through large volume to obtain a sort of visual average of which guy seems taller. Or watch video of them getting in close proximity, like Sampsons HOF speech. You will see in the video Jabbar looks visibly slightly taller than Sampson... which is consistent with the video where Eaton claims Sampson is not truthfully in his class of height, but rather his closest guess is about 7-1. Kareem in his prime was 7-1 and 7/8ths without shoes so this makes sense. One more detail is that in the 1980's Wilt claimed he was for the first time in his life not the tallest person in an elevator, when he entered and Ralph Sampson and a few other players were in it. Wilt in the 1980's measured 7-0 and 1/2 inch without shoes (shrunk a bit with age, as physician claimed he was 7-1 and 1/16th in his playing days).

So IMO it is reasonable to conclude that without shoes, Sampson was taller than 7-0 and 1/2, but shorter than 7-1 and 7/8ths.

Look him up in Red on Roundball videos, he's not much taller than Robert Parish who was listed 7-0 and was probably 6-11 without shoes. 7-4 people like Eaton look way taller, you might not be able to tell from a court camera but when you see players standing next to each other in portraits or close-up shots it becomes apparent.

As for Walton, no data whatsoever unfortunately. He may be pulling a Bill Russell in the sense that he claimed he was "6-11" but in reality he's 6-11 and a lot of change... basically a 7 footer. (Bill Russell was 6-9 and 5/8ths without shoes on, but in 1955 Sports Illustrated article stated he'd rather not be called "6-10" so as not to feel like a "goon"... the NBA listed him 6-9 there after despite him being taller than other listed 6-9 players)

[LAZERUSS]

http://articles.latimes.com/1985-03-15/sports/sp-35101_1_georgetown


Mark Eaton of Utah and Ralph Sampson of Houston are both listed at 7-4, but Eaton says, "I'd say I'm about two inches taller than Ralph when we line up. I've also been told that Ralph has never been measured in the pros.

"I asked the Houston trainer about that. He shrugged and said, 'If he wants to be 7-4, then he's 7-4. After all, he is Ralph Sampson.' "


Most footage that I have seen shows KAJ as slightly taller than Sampson.

[eliteballer]

http://turnernbaallball.files.wordpress.com/2013/07/173406690.jpg

[CavaliersFTW]

*gigantic image*

Known measurements (and when taken)

Yao: 7-5.75 without shoes 7-5 wingspan (taken 2nd year) - gained a lot of weight since then, could have shrunk

Dwight: 6-9 without shoes 7-4.5 wingspan (as rookie) - could have grown a smidge

Elvin Hayes: 6-9.5 without shoes 7-2 wingspan (senior year NCAA) - mind you he's old as shit now and could have shrunk

Hakeem is estimated by many to be about 6-10 without shoes, but no real measurement sources exist.

**BTW I don't think this image really helps reveal anything... none of these guys with confirmed measurements are close to Sampson's height, they're all several inches shorter or several inches taller. The best measuring stick is Kareem, who looks really close to his height (just barely taller on average) and is (or was) known to be 7-1 and 7/8ths without shoes.

[SHAQisGOAT]

Well, he was 7'2'' or so, with a 36'' vertical leap and great mobility, could dribble, even shoot and pass some, had post skills, played pretty good D... So yea, maybe you can say yes, but he never did have the right mindset, work ethic and killer instinct so that takes "leaves him" with the no, then he got hit by injuries and it was pretty much over. Hakeem was already better before Ralph "went down".

[HomieWeMajor]

Dan how would you say Ralph compared athletically to Wilt ?

[LAZERUSS]

Am I the only one here who is annoyed by posters with blown up images?

[HomieWeMajor]

Yeah give jlauber a break.
His windows 95 PC doesn't have the option to display resolutions above 1024x768

[jrong]

No. Hakeem was already better than him his rookie season. Ralph Sampson was too soft as a big man to ever have GOAT potential. He wasn't really that great even before injuries sidelined his career. He was a good player...but GOAT potential? He had a couple healthy years and he frankly was nothing special. It wasn't like Kareem coming into the NBA and instantly already being one of the best players in the league.

This. I remember the Twin Towers, and Hakeem was always better by a considerable margin, from the very beginning. And, yeah, "soft" is the exact word I'd use to describe Sampson.

[Stringer Bell]

Well obviously there is no shame in being inferior to Hakeem, who is one of the greatest centers ever.

I don't know if Sampson had much more room for improvement when those injuries occurred, and even if he did, I doubt he was going to come close to GOAT consideration.

But regardless, he was a very good player during his brief prime. If he continued to put 18-20 pts and 10-11 boards a game, along with a couple blocks and other shots altered, I wonder how history would have changed in the late 80s/early 90s.

Do you guys think he was better, or Yao Ming?

[houston]

dude just was chris bosh of the 80's

[Rooster]

Apart from his running and jumping ability, an interesting article here mentions he was freakishly strong for his built, too, although Jerry Sichting some years later would disagree:

http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1817&dat=19800203&id=vAgdAAAAIBAJ&sjid=5p4EAAAAIBAJ&pg=6812,418839

I disagree too. Karl Malone was moving him without any resistance. But he has wow skill set for his size.