Simple, Yao. The man earned by endless and bottomless respect. Ralph BTW was a talent in search of a place. Reminder: ASG MVP. Magic did that for him. Had he come out one year earlier he would have been the pick, not James Worthy. Ralph just didn't want to get pegged into a hole.
Ralph averaged 39 minutes in the 1986 and the 1985 playoffs. But it's not that far from what was expected in the regular season too at 37 and 36 minutes. Personally. I like it. But you could easily argue it led to some breakdown.
Ralph hit a legendary shot vs the Showtime Lakers to send us to the Finals Yao couldn't get a rebound vs Carlos Boozer in Game 7 of the first round
Probably, but in the end feet, legs, and joints just aren't meant to carry a 7 foot body back and forth for that many miles. Whether it's Sampson, Yao, Oden, Bowie, or plenty of other big men.
At the time of the twin towers Akeem was a ball of emotional turmoil. He was a fight waiting to happen, yes the talent was always there but he played mainly off felling and mentally needed to develop; which of course he did. How many times did we hear Bill store of he killed a loin with his hands? Sampson was the more skilled and professional of the two at this time. Akeem turning into Hakeem after or late in the pairing. Only after Hakeem found his true center in life, is when he became one of the best players to ever play.
Surprised that Sampson is leading the votes cause seems like a no brainer from all aspect. On offense Yao is the better shooter by far. Just look at their FT% for proxy of their shooting ability. Yao has proven to have an inside post game. Sampson pretty much just deferred to Akeem inside. Sampson had the bigger rules advantage since no zone back then and didnt have to deal with soft doubles in the post that Yao did. And he still performed worse. Longevity wise Sampson had the shorter career despite no China obligations and had Akeem to bang inside for him. And Yao in modern game would be leaner and not bang in the post so even more longevity presumably. Defense wise Sampson has higher upside but not by much. Yao would have ceiling of a Brook Lopez and Sampson that of Gobert. Both would be limited in some ways. Overall its Yao and not even close unless you really give Sampson all the credit for the 86 finals
Both were awesome Rockets, suffer premature injuries, and were unfortunately mentally weak in the playoffs. (Ralph in Boston anyone?) But Ralph hit that shot so he wins.
Took the Rockets to finals in his second year Oh Michael Jordan didn’t do that But the brainwashed don’t know know
Body types and height are more complex to be written off in that manner. Most these guys have natural height with efficient proportional composition that does not require much difference in nutrional requirements of a smaller statured athletic persons. They have great balance as a result of their efficient builds that exceed average athletes. There are many that enjoyed very long careers and decided to retire.
Akeem was much better scorer and defender that Ralph in 1986. I watched that shlt. Sry, he put Sampson in the dust in 1986. he destroyed the Lakers and dominated the entire playoff season. He is why Ralph had trouble deciding what he wanted to be when he grew up, because Akeem just took over the team.
I watched the games as well. I think saying "Akeem put Sampson in the dust " is a bit of a stretch. Olajuwon was clearly a force of nature. He could already shoot from mid range, which people tend to forget. He was a vacuum cleaner rebounding. I'm sure we could both go on about him. He was also clearly a center and Ralph had to change position. What I want to point out is that in the '86 Finals, Ralph was still only 25. He was still developing. Regardless of his different skill set, he had always been a center. Olajuwon caused him to be moved to the 4 from the 5 for the first time in his career, at least that's what I recall. As hard as it is to believe, he had to learn to play as a 4. When Akeem had to sit for one reason or another, fighting being one of them, of course, Sampson played the 5 and played very well. I think he would have gotten better over time at the 4. Sadly, bad luck didn't give him the chance that Akeem was given, in my opinion.
Yao was basically Tim Duncan of the Rockets, without Pop/Tony/Gino... He was significantly better than Ralph Sampson.
