Ralph Sampson made an impressive inbound catch and jump shot with one second left on the buzzer during a 1986 game against the Los Angeles Lakers. The Houston Rockets won 114-112 in Game 5 of the 1986 Western Conference Finals. The Rockets went to their second Finals in team history. This was the only time between 1982 and 1989 that the Lakers did not make a Finals appearance. Sampson was the first pick in the 1983 NBA Draft and was half of the Houston Rockets’ Twin Towers alignment with Hakeem Olajuwon. Sampson averaged 20.7 points and 10.9 rebounds for his first three seasons with the Houston Rockets. He played ten seasons in the NBA and is a four-time All-Star. He was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2012.
Today in Sports History: May 21
LOS ANGELES - 1986: Ralph Sampson #50 of the Houston Rockets post up against Magic Johnson #32 of the Los Angeles Lakers during an NBA game at the the Forum circa 1986 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 1986 NBAE (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images)