Rockets Legend Makes Claim About Modern NBA

“But you know, I could have played in this era for sure and I would probably dominate the game more than I dominated the game in the past," Sampson said. "30 and 20. Easy."

"They say I'm Wemby, the first, he's Wemby, the second. But I'm Ralph the first, he's Ralph the second. I could post-up, I could dribble, and I could shoot outside. We didn't shoot many 3s when I played, but I'm sure my mindset would've been really tough to play and would've been at an elite level of the game."

Sampson has been compared to current San Antonio Spurs star Victor Wembanyama, as the two have similar heights. Wembanyama, a French phenom who already has an All-Star appearance in just two seasons, averaged 24.3 points, 11.0 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 3.8 blocks per game.

It's certainly a bold take from the 65-year-old, as the league has expanded to positionless basketball and an emphasis on shooting. Sampson never extended his shots beyond the midrange, but perhaps he could have adapted.

If Sampson couldn't hold up too long in the 1980s' NBA, there's doubt that he could handle the modern era. Plenty of centers who lack jump shots are still in the league with solid roles, but very few have become stars, let alone averaging 30 points and 20 rebounds per game in 2025.