Hall of Famer Ralph Sampson: among the NBA's biggest busts?

June 21, 2013 1:40 PM

Whatever you think about Sampson...may say more about you than about him. The Washington Post's Kathy Orton tracks the rise and fade of Basketball Hall of Famer Ralph Sampson.

The Greatest Team that Never Was: An Oral History of the 1980s Houston Rockets.

The Greatest Upset Never Seen.

Ralph Sampson, Hall of Famer.

posted by MoonOrb (33 comments total)

It's hard with the 80s Rockets because Olajuwon absolutely earned his keep (and led them to two championships) but will always be remembered for being drafted ahead of Jordan.

I though conventional wisdom all agreed that Sampson was a bust, though.
posted by Navelgazer at 1:43 PM on June 21, 2013

The comment was about Olajuwon, who was #1, Bowie was #2, and Jordan #3. Olajuwon was a spectacular #1 pick, and if I was picking that day for an NBA team I would not lose sleep knowing that Jordan turned into who he did. But if I'd picked Bowie...sorry Portland.

Of course, the sorry Portland thing comes full circle when you realize that Greg Oden is today's Ralph Sampson. Again, sorry Portland. Honestly, I love you out there, but your NBA team is almost as cursed as Cleveland's. Also, wtf with the water flouridation?
posted by mcstayinskool at 1:50 PM on June 21, 2013 [1 favorite]

MoonOrb, I believe Navelgazer was referring to Olajuwon being picked #1 in the '84 draft, ahead of Bowie (#2) and Jordan (#3).
posted by Doofus Magoo at 1:50 PM on June 21, 2013

Navelgazer was talking about Olajuwon who was the number one pick in '84 ahead of both Bowie and Jordan.
posted by Bulgaroktonos at 1:50 PM on June 21, 2013

In this discussion, we need to define "bust." Sampson was a No. 1 overall pick that went on to play in a Finals and made four All-Star teams.

Kwame Brown was a No. 1 overall pick -- straight oughta high school -- that has played for seven different teams and has a 6.6 PPG average. He was drafted ahead of NBA champions Pau Gasol, Tony Parker, Shane Battier, Tyson Chandler, etc.

Is he a bigger bust that Sampson? Computer says YES.
posted by Cool Papa Bell at 1:57 PM on June 21, 2013 [1 favorite]

From a basketball history perspective, I would not call Ralph Sampson one of the biggest busts. He was good until his knees killed his career short. Greg Oden is more of a bust considering that he has played even less than Sampson did, but I'd submit some other names that were busts not due to injury, but because they were just not good at basketball:

Michael Olowokandi
Kwame Brown

Also, Pervis Ellison was selected #1 in a year that included Sean Elliot, Glen Rice, Tim Hardaway, and Shawn Kemp.
posted by mcstayinskool at 1:58 PM on June 21, 2013

Oh, and Vlade Divac
posted by mcstayinskool at 2:00 PM on June 21, 2013 [1 favorite]

Maybe it's because I'm a lifelong Virginian, but I would definitely put Sampson down as one of the all-time greats. I followed him closely through his college and professional career. I remember how horribly he hit his head. He's just one of those guys who had to suffer through situations that were everything but helpful to his career. Events just kinda conspired against him. (Just like I would argue that Bill Walton would have been the greatest basketball player ever if it weren't for a lot of things out of his control.)
posted by Benny Andajetz at 2:01 PM on June 21, 2013

It's hard for me to be neutral on Ralph. In my mind, what he did as a college player (regardless of his later basketball performance) makes him a no-brainer as a Hall-of-Famer. I grew up watching Ralph play college ball, and he was a really marvelous player and team-mate, and widely reputed to be a nice guy; he had a room on the Lawn which was a well-deserved honor, but he had to basically move out because whenever people came knocking on his door, he'd take the time to talk to them, and people knocked all the time. He had no privacy, and people were sucking up his time.

I think his off-court shyness and almost diffidence has gotten in his own way. He's never been good at self-promotion, and I think early on he got used to being ... directed, and was not ready for that kind of structure disappearing on them. This is not to excuse some bad choices and mistakes he's made in his life, because he's made some doozies, but Ralph wasn't the expected image of the basketball star, and I think that got in his own way, too. He may not have wanted to be a big star, but he didn't know how to not be the big star when it was suddenly gone.
posted by julen at 2:03 PM on June 21, 2013

I see your Bill Walton would have been the greatest basketball player ever if it weren't for a lot of things out of his control and raise you a behind-the-iron-curtain Arvydas Sabonis.
posted by mcstayinskool at 2:04 PM on June 21, 2013 [2 favorites]

Labeling someone a "bust" that was a 4 time All-Star, Rookie of the Year is completely ludicrous.
posted by nathancaswell at 2:06 PM on June 21, 2013 [2 favorites]

I see your Bill Walton would have been the greatest basketball player ever if it weren't for a lot of things out of his control

Shaq could have been the greatest ever if it weren't for him being Shaq.
posted by srboisvert at 2:09 PM on June 21, 2013 [1 favorite]

Shaq was a terrific player with some big holes in his game, but he was a winner. You wouldn't go too badly wrong on you all-time Time Travel NBA team picking Shaq #1 (if Jordan and the Big O and Wilt and Bird and Magic and a few other guys were already taken).
posted by Mister_A at 2:13 PM on June 21, 2013

Shawn Bradley was bigger and did less.

I have a cool photo of Ralph Sampson and his custom built mountain bike. Under him it looks like a BMX.
posted by Repack Rider at 2:23 PM on June 21, 2013

As a 'seventies Warriors season ticket holder it's hard to forget "Joe Barely Cares," Joe Barry Carroll, who didn't quite live up to the legacy of Rick Barry and Bernard King.
posted by Repack Rider at 2:29 PM on June 21, 2013 [1 favorite]

Sabonis was unbelievable.

But, Sampson was derailed by injuries, so was Bowie and Ellison (I'm from Louisville, KY. Those hurt)

It's not a fair comparison, but uhh, Len Bias?
posted by DigDoug at 2:33 PM on June 21, 2013

As someone who was a kid in Charlottesville when he was playing for Uva, he's always been a superstar in my mind. Thanks for posting this.
posted by gingerbeer at 2:52 PM on June 21, 2013

I can't rank Shaquille O'Neal very high on the list of "greatest" basketball players. I am better than he is at shooting, dribbling, and passing. Those are pretty important skills in basketball. I am not sure how many other professional basketball players I can say that about.

I won't argue with his effectiveness, of course. Yes, he was quick. Yes, he was strong. He also committed what would have historically been an offensive foul on almost every possession. The rules were changed to allow him to dunk more and be called for fewer charges. It is funny. Rules were changed to make it more difficult for Wilt Chamberlain to score. By the late 90's the sport had become so fan and entertainment driven that they actually changed the rules and way the game was officiated to allow this very popular player to be more successful. So I would say that he was very effective under the rules that he played under, but that he was not a particularly skilled or "great" player by any traditional measurement of basketball ability.
posted by flarbuse at 2:55 PM on June 21, 2013 [1 favorite]

Not fulfilling your potential or not living up to what people expect of you is not necessarily a bust. But if you make the Hall of Fame then that's generally considered a success.
posted by Rashomon at 2:56 PM on June 21, 2013

I am better than he is at shooting, dribbling, and passing.

Unless you are an NBA point guard or LeBron James, you are not better at passing than Shaq. He was great at passing.
posted by callmejay at 3:40 PM on June 21, 2013 [1 favorite]

It's not a fair comparison, but uhh, Len Bias?

That's unkind, indeed.
posted by Ice Cream Socialist at 3:45 PM on June 21, 2013

By the late 90's the sport had become so fan and entertainment driven that they actually changed the rules and way the game was officiated to allow this very popular player to be more successful.

It should be noted that basketball is not the only sport to do stuff like this. The NHL is constantly tweaking its rules to increase scoring, increase the "speed" of the game, or otherwise make it more of what they think will make it entertaining for fans.
posted by Hoopo at 4:02 PM on June 21, 2013

I live in the town that he is from, Harrisonburg, VA, and have seen him out and about at a few events and while it may be an understatement...he is TALL.
posted by JennyJupiter at 5:36 PM on June 21, 2013

Shaq was a ridiculously good passer with great court vision. His ball handling skills were just fine for someone 7'2". His shot percentage was typically near league best during his prime (granted, mostly dunks and 3' hooks and layups. You were not better than Shaq at any of those things.

But free throws? I will grant you that one.
posted by mcstayinskool at 5:45 PM on June 21, 2013 [1 favorite]

It should be noted that basketball is not the only sport to do stuff like this. The NHL is constantly tweaking its rules to increase scoring, increase the "speed" of the game, or otherwise make it more of what they think will make it entertaining for fans.

Ditto w/ the NFL (see: downfield contact by DBs, Bill Polian Colts, overprotection of QBs while allowing defensive linemen to be cut blocked, banning the Deacon Jones headslap while RBs can stiff arm aka punch in the face etc). The only major North American sport to be somewhat exempt from this is baseball and even they had the dead ball era. Can't really speak to soccer; don't know jack shit about soccer.
posted by nathancaswell at 5:47 PM on June 21, 2013 [1 favorite]

mcstayinskool: "Shaq was a ridiculously good passer with great court vision. His ball handling skills were just fine for someone 7'2". His shot percentage was typically near league best during his prime (granted, mostly dunks and 3' hooks and layups. You were not better than Shaq at any of those things. But free throws? I will grant you that one."

I knew Shaq was gonna be huge when I saw him follow a steal or maybe a rebound with running from the top of his own key, full speed, then dunking on some poor 17 year old kid in the McDonalds All American game. At what I think was still 6'11".

He had a similar running of the court with LSU that year they made the tourney. Step for step with the point guard. Guys that size just don't move like that, they just don't.

Sampson looked like a 50 year old man at 26, more to the point, he moved like a 50 year old man at 26.
posted by Sphinx at 6:14 PM on June 21, 2013

As someone who was a kid in Charlottesville when he was playing for UVa, he's always been a superstar in my mind. Thanks for posting this.

Yeah, me too! I was a little young to have seen him play, but he was always a legend. Actually his greatness may have hurt the program a bit ultimately, as people developed, over time, unrealistic expectations. The UVa teams I watched play were always in his shadow.
posted by selfnoise at 6:16 PM on June 21, 2013

When his high school team played my high school, it was the best-attended game in Western's history, as I understand it. (I was still in middle school then.) I think at that point he had already decided to go to UVa, and was definitely a high school phenom everyone wanted to see. I saw most UVa home basketball games while he was playing, as I babysat for a family with season tickets. That was also the era of Jeff Jones and Jeff Lamp and Lee Riker and why the heck do I still remember the line-up of a college team for a college I never attended from 30 years ago?
posted by gingerbeer at 6:56 PM on June 21, 2013 [1 favorite]

Yea, "bust" is way too harsh for Sampson, the guy made 4 All Star teams and 1 All-NBA, what more do you want from a #1 pick who happened to have terrible injury luck and a shortened career?

"Bust" should be reserved for top 10 draft picks who contribute negligible, significantly less than replacement level value over their careers with the team that wasted a draft pick on them, with special attention to what their draft contemporaries would ahve done in their place.

Actual busts include:
LaRue Martin #1 overall over Bob McAdoo and Dr. J, averaged 5.8pts in only 4 seasons

Len Bias - #2 overall, sadly died of cocaine overdose before playing a game

Hasheem Thabeet - #2 overall over James Harden, Ricky Rubio and Steph Curry, has played 0 meaningful NBA minutes and is the highest drafted player to be relegated to the D-league

Adam Morrisson - #3 overall over Rajon Rondo, has played 0 meaningful NBA minutes

Darko Milicic - #3 overall over CARMELO ANTHONY, DWYANE WADE and CHRIS BOSH, played 0 meaningful NBA minutes for the Pistons and averaged only 6ppg for 7 different teams

Shawn Bradley - #2 overall over Mashburn and Penny Hardaway, somehow played a decade of terrible basketball seemingly only to sell posters of other players dunking on his face

Jay Williams - #2 overall, wrecked his knee in an idiotic self-inflicted motorcycle accident before playing a game

Greg Oden - #1 overall over KEVIN DURANT, Joakim Noah and Al Horford, hardly played
any games and 0 healthy ones
posted by T.D. Strange at 7:21 PM on June 21, 2013

The last time I remember crying after a sports team lost was when Sampson and UVA lost to UAB in the NCAAs. A lot of people don't remember that the year after Sampson left UVA went to the final four. I loved Sampson he was my hero as a child and have lots of memories of watching him, like the Super Bowl Sunday game against Ohio State when he had 42 points. The guy was NCAA player of the year three years in a row! Plus he helped beat an 80s Lakers team. NBA bust? Arguable, but one of the most fun players I ever remember watching play.
posted by PHINC at 7:22 PM on June 21, 2013

Hah! I remember that my elementary school was suddenly highly basketball-focused when the game gingerbeer mentioned happened. Someone's brother was on the Western team, so it suddenly was personal to a bunch of kids, and the adults were constantly talking to each other about it.

The game itself really was a big event in a small town. For days after, people were dissecting that game and what it'd mean for UVa basketball everywhere you went. Before the game loomed, the top topics of conversation were: the weather, fishing, farming, land sales, arrests and rumors about the county government. Game Day and Immediately After: Basketball, basketball, basketball, weather, and basketball. Suddenly, in our PE classes, we took a break from square dancing to learn some basketball skills before inevitably going back to interminable do-si-doing. And even after the excitement died down, basketball and UVA's chances in basketball still remained a part of regular conservation, and interest in UVa Basketball rose.
posted by julen at 7:27 PM on June 21, 2013 [1 favorite]

If Sampson was a bust then so was Bill Walton ;)

The draft this year is exceptionally weak, but 2014 is going to be a monster draft. There will be 5-8 players next year who would be potential #1 picks this year: Marcus Smart, Jabari Parker, and Julius Randle. The probable #1 in 2014, Andrew Wiggins, has the potential to be a Kobe/Lebron/Durant type of talent.
posted by Redgrendel2001 at 4:32 PM on June 22, 2013

nathancaswell: "The only major North American sport to be somewhat exempt from this is baseball and even they had the dead ball era. "

Pitcher's mound lowered in 1969.
Designated hitter added in 1973 in AL.
Numerous changes in strike zone definition.
Not an official rule change, but the wave of new ballparks that started in the 90s were generally considerably smaller with less foul area, so as to boost home runs.
posted by Chrysostom at 11:16 AM on June 23, 2013