Born in Harrisonburg, Virginia, in 1960, Ralph Sampson started growing like a weed while he was practicing his jump shot.
In addition to getting taller by the day, the hotshot hoopster’s foot size grew with each passing year and, by the time he was 17, so was his shoe size.
A standout player for four years at The University of Virginia, Sampson was able to find success on the basketball court despite struggling to find a shoe that would fit him, often resorting to combinations of different socks to find something that was somewhat comfortable for his long yet narrow feet.
Luckily, by the time Sampson was taken No. 1 overall in the 1983 NBA draft, relief was on the way.
PUMA, which was already represented on the NBA hardwood by Walt “Clyde” Frazier, inked Sampson to a deal and began making his signature shoe, the Majesty, which made its NBA debut at the same time Sampson did: two days before Halloween of 1983.
In order to open pathways for success, we must encourage limitless possibilities for urban and culturally diverse youth. We promote charitable and community input, educational development, health, fitness, and scholarships through various programs. It is with a strong commitment to our communities’ future that we are forever optimistic about the possibilities that we have, even with the many obstacles we face along the way. The Sampson Family Foundation was founded on the motto: “It Takes Teamwork To Make The Dream Work”