#659 - Ralph Sampson - 3X NCAA Player Of The Year Is One Of Basketball All-time Great Centers

In this episode of The Jimmy Rex Show, Jimmy sits down with one of basketball’s all-time greats — Ralph Sampson, four-time NBA All-Star, No. 1 overall pick, and one of only two players in history to win three consecutive National College Player of the Year awards. From his dominant years at Virginia to forming the iconic “Twin Towers” duo with Hakeem Olajuwon in Houston, Ralph opens up about the discipline, focus, and love for the game that defined his remarkable journey.

Ralph reflects on what it took to maintain motivation at the top, the evolution of the NBA, and how today’s game has shifted from the fundamentals that built its foundation. He also shares stories about playing through adversity, the legendary 1982 Chaminade upset, and his thoughts on the new era of NIL deals and college basketball’s changing landscape.

This is a powerful conversation about legacy, hard work, and perspective — from a man whose career helped shape modern basketball.

00:00 Introduction
00:45 Ralph Sampson joins the show
01:48 Winning three consecutive College Player of the Year awards
03:05 Motivation, discipline, and legacy in basketball
04:55 Traveling in the NBA and building the league’s foundation
06:20 The Houston years and forming the Twin Towers with Hakeem Olajuwon
09:00 The evolution of the NBA and positionless basketball
12:40 How analytics and the three-pointer changed the game
15:00 The history and impact of earlier generations on today’s players
16:40 The legendary Chaminade upset and the birth of the Maui Invitational
18:50 Thoughts on NIL, the transfer portal, and the future of college basketball
23:00 Legacy, lessons from Virginia, and final reflections
27:03 Outro