Post by DB on Dec 6, 2008 2:40:01 GMT -5
Ralph Sampson Jr, the face of the Los Angeles Lakers since 2017, has had a historic career that will surely lead him into the UOSL2 hall of fame. The man who has brought so much to the Los Angeles community, fans and the Laker organization, is in his final year of a three-year deal. The big man will turn 38 this off-season and will have to make a huge decision, stay or retire? It is widely known that the Lakers will bring back Sampson because of what he means to this organization and to the fans. He has been a Laker for 10 seasons and has played hard in every single game. A team leader, always with a smile on his face, never got the ring he so desired. Last season in Sampson’s first ever finals appearance, he brought the old tenacity that he embodied when he was in his prime. “When you get into the playoffs, no matter how you played all year, a new switch turns on inside of you, you feel the crowd, the importance of the game, you play that much harder to win the big one,” Sampson said in a post game interview tonight. The Lakers did not win it all, as you know, losing to the Indiana Pacers in seven games.
Ralph still brings that veteran presence to this team that is craving for another shot at the finals. With career lows across the board in points per game, blocks per game, and rebounds per game, it seems age has taken the best of Mr. Sampson. What he has brought over the years to the Laker’s is something not many big men have done, and that is consistency. In his 16-year career he has average nine seasons with a double double. His career high in points per game came in his first season as a Laker in 2017 where he average 19.2 ppg. His career high in blocks per game is 4.1, which he accomplished in 2016 with the San Antonio Spurs, and 2019 with the Lakers. His career high in rebounds was 11.3 rebounds per game, which came in the years 2014 with the New Orleans Hornets, and 2022 with the Lakers.
Ralph career averages are 12.6 points per game, 9.5 rebounds per game and 3.2 blocks per game. So far he has 67 disqualifications in his career. His career field goal percentage is .427 and his career free throw percentage is .732. Sampson individual game highs include 40 points, 23 rebounds, 8 assists, 5 steals and a Laker record 13 blocks. He has 106 player of the game awards and 2 player of the week awards. He has over 484 double doubles and 10 triple doubles. The 7-foot big man being selected 21st in the 2010 UOSL2 draft has come along way from being selected by the New Orleans Hornets. It took a few seasons for him to develop into the player he would be known for which effected his career averages. But no one should permit this man from ever being entered into the Hall Of Fame, he embodies what every hall of fame player should be and is. He will be remembered as a Laker great till his final days with the team and UOSL2. The man, the myth, the legend that is Ralph Sampson is a Laker great and when the day comes of his retirement, GM Dan Basone said he will cry.
Sampson's number will be anchored up into the Staple Center raptures once he is gone. He will always be apart of this franchise and looked at as a legend by the future generations of players that put on the purple and gold.
I am Erin Andrews coming to you live outside the Staple Center. Back to you Scott.
Ralph still brings that veteran presence to this team that is craving for another shot at the finals. With career lows across the board in points per game, blocks per game, and rebounds per game, it seems age has taken the best of Mr. Sampson. What he has brought over the years to the Laker’s is something not many big men have done, and that is consistency. In his 16-year career he has average nine seasons with a double double. His career high in points per game came in his first season as a Laker in 2017 where he average 19.2 ppg. His career high in blocks per game is 4.1, which he accomplished in 2016 with the San Antonio Spurs, and 2019 with the Lakers. His career high in rebounds was 11.3 rebounds per game, which came in the years 2014 with the New Orleans Hornets, and 2022 with the Lakers.
Ralph career averages are 12.6 points per game, 9.5 rebounds per game and 3.2 blocks per game. So far he has 67 disqualifications in his career. His career field goal percentage is .427 and his career free throw percentage is .732. Sampson individual game highs include 40 points, 23 rebounds, 8 assists, 5 steals and a Laker record 13 blocks. He has 106 player of the game awards and 2 player of the week awards. He has over 484 double doubles and 10 triple doubles. The 7-foot big man being selected 21st in the 2010 UOSL2 draft has come along way from being selected by the New Orleans Hornets. It took a few seasons for him to develop into the player he would be known for which effected his career averages. But no one should permit this man from ever being entered into the Hall Of Fame, he embodies what every hall of fame player should be and is. He will be remembered as a Laker great till his final days with the team and UOSL2. The man, the myth, the legend that is Ralph Sampson is a Laker great and when the day comes of his retirement, GM Dan Basone said he will cry.
Sampson's number will be anchored up into the Staple Center raptures once he is gone. He will always be apart of this franchise and looked at as a legend by the future generations of players that put on the purple and gold.
I am Erin Andrews coming to you live outside the Staple Center. Back to you Scott.
