# @showtimebasketball on YouTube - **Type:** Video - **Original URL:** https://youtube.com/watch?v=bNu20ZC488w - **Gondola URL:** https://gondola.cc/posts/35823781-showtimebasketball-youtube - **Thumbnail:** https://img.gondola.cc/tr:w-,h-,fo-auto/postThumbnails/3479a3e845.jpg - **Posted:** 2025-10-16T16:00:25.000+00:00 - **Account Owner:** SHOWTIME Basketball (@showtimebasketball) — https://gondola.cc/showtimebasketball ## Caption Before Victor Wembanyama, there was Ralph Sampson, the original unicorn. One of the nation’s first super recruits, Sampson appeared on six Sports Illustrated covers in four years at the University of Virginia and once more as a member of the Houston Rockets. Matt and Stak sit down with the Hall of Famer to reflect on his legendary career, from NBA brawls and battles with Michael Jordan and Dr. J to facing greats like Moses Malone and teaming up with Hakeem Olajuwon. He shares wild stories about receiving death threats in college, Bob Knight smacking a cop while coaching Team USA, running into Mad Max in jail, and the Puma deal that became a lifetime contract. Sampson remains one of the most under appreciated talents in basketball history, and this conversation proves why. #AllTheSmokeProductions #NBA #AllTheSmoke #houstonrockets #ralphsampson New DraftKings Pick6 customers: Play just $5 on your first pick set and get $50 in bonus picks. Sign up using dkng.co/smoke or through my promo code SMOKE #DKPartner Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER. Help is available for problem gambling. Call (888) 789-7777 or visit ccpg.org (CT). 18+ (19+ AL/NE, 21+ AZ/MA/VA). Valid only where Pick6 operates, see dkng.co/pick6states. Void in NY, ONT, and where prohibited. Eligibility restrictions apply. 1 per new DraftKings customer. $5+ first Pick Set to receive max. $50 issued as non-withdrawable Bonus Picks that expire in 14 days (336 hours). Ends 11/3/25 at 11:59 PM ET. Terms: pick6.draftkings.com/promos Sponsored by DraftKings. Follow Matt: https://www.instagram.com/matt_barnes9/ Follow Stak: https://www.instagram.com/_stak5_/ 00:00:00 - How Ralph Sampson chose baseball over basketball 00:03:02 - Current NBA vs. his era 00:04:44 - Worst part of being so tall 00:05:52 - Upbringing in Virginia 00:07:51 - College recruitment and Bob Knight story 00:12:49 - High school grassroots scene in his era vs. today 00:17:57 - Loaded ACC conference with Michael Jordan and Len Bias 00:20:39 - Receiving death threats at the University of Virginia 00:23:38 - Choosing Puma over Pro-Keds 00:25:32 - Fonde pickup games with Moses Malone 00:28:50 - Ad Break: DraftKings Pick 6, Corona, Boost Mobile 00:30:07 - NBA rookie experience 00:32:58 - Hakeem Olajuwon joins the Rockets 00:36:57 - Knocking off the Lakers in the 1986 Western Conference Finals 00:39:51 - Fight vs. Celtics in 1986 00:44:48 - John Lucas gets kicked out of the NBA in 1986 00:48:15 - Ad Break: Disney+ & Hulu, Ro Sparks 00:49:56 - Joining Golden State with Don Nelson 00:55:15 - Dealing with injuries 00:57:25 - Hall of Fame induction 00:58:47 - Vernon Maxwell’s story about seeing each other in jail 01:00:28 - Quick Hitters Listen on audio: Apple - http://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/all-the-smoke/id1483638752 Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/3Cdge5G5apw1LsC8jGcl4j Follow ATS on social: Instagram - https://instagram.com/allthesmoke TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@allthesmoke X - https://x.com/allthesmokeprod Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/allthesmokeproductions/ Threads - https://www.threads.com/@allthesmoke Watch our other shows: KG Certified - https://www.youtube.com/@KGCertified All The Smoke Fight - https://www.youtube.com/@ATSFight Morning Kombat - https://www.youtube.com/@MorningKombat Ring Champs - https://www.youtube.com/@RingChampsPodcast Forgotten Seasons - https://www.youtube.com/@forgottenseasonsnba ## Stats - **Views:** 136,801 - **Likes:** 3,275 - **Shares:** 0 - **Comments:** 582 ## Tags nba, houstonrockets, dkpartner, allthesmoke, allthesmokeproductions, ralphsampson --- Copyright (c) Gondola