Richard Jefferson vs. Ralph Sampson Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Ralph Sampson and Richard Jefferson, from their rookie seasons to their last year played, in chronological order with awards, stats, championships and playoff performance of their teams every year.

Player comparisons:
Career comparison / Season by season

Who had the better rookie season? Who had best stats in their 10th season? Who won a championship first? These questions and many others, are answered here.

Richard Jefferson played 17 years in the NBA, 8 more than Ralph Sampson, who played 9. Richard Jefferson had the first of his seasons in 2001-02, while Ralph Sampson had his rookie season in 1983-84. With that starting point, here you can take a look at each of their seasons side by side and compare how their careers evolved in achivements, awards and championships won, the stats they recorded both in the Regular Season and the Playoffs and how their teams performed in the postseason.

Their Careers

Player
Total Seasons Playoffs Played NBA Years
Richard Jefferson 17 12 2001-02 to 2017-18
Ralph Sampson 9 4 1983-84 to 1991-92

Comparison Season by Season

Jump to season:
1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-11-12-13-14-15-16-17

Rookie Season

Richard Jefferson Ralph Sampson
Season 2001-021983-84
Team New Jersey NetsHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards -Achievement Rookie of the Year
-Achievement All-Rookie First Team
Achievement All-Rookie Second Team-
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Nets Lost NBA FinalsDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Richard Jefferson 79 24.3 9.4 1.1 2.6 3.7 1.8 0.8 0.6 1.4 2.7 3.4 7.5 .457 0.2 0.7 .232 2.4 3.4 .713
Ralph Sampson 82 32.8 21.0 3.6 7.6 11.1 2.0 0.9 2.4 3.6 4.1 8.7 16.7 .523 0.0 0.0 .250 3.5 5.3 .661
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Richard Jefferson 20 22.1 7.0 0.8 3.8 4.6 1.3 0.6 0.5 1.3 2.0 2.7 5.7 .465 0.0 0.1 .000 1.7 3.0 .550
Ralph Sampson ------- --- ----------

Season 2

Richard Jefferson Ralph Sampson
Season 2002-031984-85
Team New Jersey NetsHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
-Achievement All-Star Game NVP
Playoffs Nets Lost NBA FinalsRockets Lost West Conf 1st Rd
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Richard Jefferson 80 36.0 15.5 1.9 4.6 6.4 2.5 1.0 0.6 2.0 2.7 5.7 11.4 .501 0.1 0.3 .250 4.1 5.5 .743
Ralph Sampson 82 37.6 22.1 2.8 7.6 10.4 2.7 1.0 2.0 4.0 3.7 9.2 18.3 .502 0.0 0.1 .000 3.7 5.5 .676
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Richard Jefferson 20 35.7 14.1 1.5 4.9 6.4 2.4 0.8 0.2 2.3 3.4 5.5 11.6 .476 0.0 0.2 .000 3.1 4.3 .718
Ralph Sampson 5 38.6 21.2 5.0 11.6 16.6 1.4 0.4 1.6 3.4 4.6 8.6 20.0 .430 0.2 0.2 1.000 3.8 7.4 .514

Season 3

Richard Jefferson Ralph Sampson
Season 2003-041985-86
Team New Jersey NetsHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Nets Lost East Conf SemisRockets Lost NBA Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Richard Jefferson 82 38.2 18.5 1.3 4.3 5.7 3.8 1.1 0.3 2.4 2.7 6.8 13.6 .498 0.6 1.6 .364 4.4 5.7 .763
Ralph Sampson 79 36.3 18.9 3.3 7.9 11.1 3.6 1.3 1.6 3.6 3.9 7.9 16.2 .488 0.0 0.2 .133 3.1 4.8 .641
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Richard Jefferson 11 41.6 19.8 1.3 5.0 6.3 3.8 1.3 0.7 3.9 3.2 6.0 14.4 .418 0.8 3.0 .273 7.0 9.8 .713
Ralph Sampson 20 37.1 20.0 3.3 7.5 10.8 4.0 1.5 1.8 3.6 4.0 7.8 15.1 .518 0.1 0.1 1.000 4.3 5.9 .729

Season 4

Richard Jefferson Ralph Sampson
Season 2004-051986-87
Team New Jersey NetsHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Nets Lost East Conf 1st RdRockets Lost West Conf Semis
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Richard Jefferson 33 41.1 22.2 1.5 5.8 7.3 4.0 1.0 0.5 4.0 3.3 7.2 17.1 .422 0.9 2.7 .337 6.9 8.2 .844
Ralph Sampson 43 30.8 15.6 2.0 6.6 8.7 2.8 0.9 1.3 2.9 3.9 6.4 13.2 .489 0.0 0.1 .000 2.7 4.4 .624
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Richard Jefferson 4 35.5 15.8 2.0 3.5 5.5 2.3 0.8 0.0 2.0 3.5 5.0 12.5 .400 0.5 2.5 .200 5.3 7.8 .677
Ralph Sampson 10 33.0 18.6 2.7 6.1 8.8 2.1 0.2 1.2 3.1 4.7 7.5 14.6 .514 0.1 0.2 .500 3.5 4.3 .814

Season 5

Richard Jefferson Ralph Sampson
Season 2005-061987-88
Team New Jersey NetsHouston Rockets, Golden State Warriors
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Nets Lost East Conf SemisDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Richard Jefferson 78 39.2 19.5 1.2 5.6 6.8 3.8 0.8 0.2 2.2 2.5 6.3 12.9 .493 0.8 2.4 .319 6.0 7.4 .812
Ralph Sampson 48 34.6 15.6 2.9 6.7 9.6 2.5 0.9 1.8 3.6 3.4 6.2 14.2 .438 0.0 0.2 .182 3.1 4.1 .760
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Richard Jefferson 11 39.7 22.2 0.6 3.5 4.1 4.1 0.9 0.4 2.7 2.9 8.2 15.0 .545 1.1 2.6 .414 4.7 5.7 .825
Ralph Sampson ------- --- ----------

Season 6

Richard Jefferson Ralph Sampson
Season 2006-071988-89
Team New Jersey NetsGolden State Warriors
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Nets Lost East Conf SemisWarriors Lost West Conf Semis
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Richard Jefferson 55 35.6 16.3 0.9 3.5 4.4 2.7 0.6 0.1 2.2 2.2 5.5 12.1 .456 0.9 2.6 .359 4.3 5.9 .733
Ralph Sampson 61 17.8 6.4 1.7 3.3 5.0 1.3 0.5 1.1 1.5 2.8 2.7 6.0 .449 0.0 0.1 .375 1.0 1.6 .653
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Richard Jefferson 12 40.8 19.7 0.3 5.3 5.6 2.3 0.8 0.4 2.3 2.0 6.8 14.0 .482 1.1 3.3 .325 5.1 5.5 .924
Ralph Sampson 3 14.3 6.7 2.0 2.7 4.7 0.3 0.3 0.7 1.3 2.7 3.0 7.3 .409 0.0 1.3 .000 0.7 1.3 .500

Season 7

Richard Jefferson Ralph Sampson
Season 2007-081989-90
Team New Jersey NetsSacramento Kings
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlayDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Richard Jefferson 82 39.0 22.6 1.1 3.0 4.2 3.1 0.9 0.3 2.4 2.7 7.5 16.2 .466 0.9 2.6 .362 6.6 8.3 .798
Ralph Sampson 26 16.0 4.2 0.4 2.8 3.2 1.1 0.5 0.8 1.3 2.5 1.8 5.0 .372 0.0 0.2 .250 0.5 0.9 .522
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Richard Jefferson ------- --- ----------
Ralph Sampson ------- --- ----------

Season 8

Richard Jefferson Ralph Sampson
Season 2008-091990-91
Team Milwaukee BucksSacramento Kings
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlayDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Richard Jefferson 82 35.8 19.6 0.7 3.9 4.6 2.4 0.8 0.2 2.0 3.1 6.5 14.9 .439 1.4 3.6 .397 5.1 6.3 .805
Ralph Sampson 25 13.9 3.0 1.6 2.8 4.4 0.7 0.4 0.7 1.1 2.2 1.4 3.7 .366 0.0 0.2 .200 0.2 0.8 .263
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Richard Jefferson ------- --- ----------
Ralph Sampson ------- --- ----------

Season 9

Richard Jefferson Ralph Sampson
Season 2009-101991-92
Team San Antonio SpursWashington Bullets
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Spurs Lost West Conf SemisDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Richard Jefferson 81 31.1 12.3 0.7 3.7 4.4 2.0 0.6 0.5 1.3 2.2 4.5 9.6 .467 0.7 2.3 .316 2.6 3.5 .735
Ralph Sampson 10 10.8 2.2 1.1 1.9 3.0 0.4 0.3 0.8 1.0 1.4 0.9 2.9 .310 0.0 0.2 .000 0.4 0.6 .667
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Richard Jefferson 10 33.4 9.4 0.8 4.5 5.3 1.8 0.6 0.6 1.5 2.0 3.4 7.0 .486 0.1 0.5 .200 2.5 3.3 .758
Ralph Sampson ------- --- ----------

Season 10

Richard Jefferson Ralph Sampson
Season 2010-11-
Team San Antonio Spurs-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Spurs Lost West Conf 1st Rd-
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Richard Jefferson 81 30.4 11.0 0.7 3.2 3.8 1.3 0.5 0.4 1.1 2.0 3.8 7.9 .474 1.7 3.8 .440 1.8 2.4 .759
Ralph Sampson ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Richard Jefferson 6 29.3 6.5 0.3 3.8 4.2 0.8 0.5 0.5 1.0 2.2 2.0 5.2 .387 1.0 2.8 .353 1.5 1.8 .818
Ralph Sampson ------- --- ----------

Season 11

Richard Jefferson Ralph Sampson
Season 2011-12-
Team San Antonio Spurs, Golden State Warriors-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not Play-
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Richard Jefferson 63 27.7 9.2 0.4 3.1 3.5 1.4 0.6 0.3 0.8 1.9 3.2 7.7 .416 1.8 4.3 .420 0.9 1.3 .694
Ralph Sampson ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Richard Jefferson ------- --- ----------
Ralph Sampson ------- --- ----------

Season 12

Richard Jefferson Ralph Sampson
Season 2012-13-
Team Golden State Warriors-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Warriors Lost West Conf Semis-
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Richard Jefferson 56 10.1 3.1 0.1 1.4 1.5 0.6 0.3 0.1 0.4 0.8 1.1 2.4 .456 0.3 0.8 .311 0.7 0.9 .717
Ralph Sampson ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Richard Jefferson 7 5.6 1.9 0.3 0.7 1.0 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.0 0.7 0.6 1.3 .444 0.3 0.4 .667 0.4 1.3 .333
Ralph Sampson ------- --- ----------

Season 13

Richard Jefferson Ralph Sampson
Season 2013-14-
Team Utah Jazz-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not Play-
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Richard Jefferson 82 27.0 10.1 0.2 2.5 2.7 1.6 0.7 0.2 1.1 2.0 3.6 8.0 .450 1.5 3.7 .409 1.5 2.0 .741
Ralph Sampson ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Richard Jefferson ------- --- ----------
Ralph Sampson ------- --- ----------

Season 14

Richard Jefferson Ralph Sampson
Season 2014-15-
Team Dallas Mavericks-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Mavericks Lost West Conf 1st Rd-
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Richard Jefferson 74 16.8 5.8 0.3 2.1 2.5 0.8 0.4 0.1 0.7 1.6 1.9 4.4 .444 0.9 2.1 .426 1.1 1.5 .684
Ralph Sampson ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Richard Jefferson 4 12.8 3.8 0.0 0.5 0.5 0.3 0.5 0.0 0.8 2.3 1.3 3.5 .357 0.8 2.0 .375 0.5 0.5 1.000
Ralph Sampson ------- --- ----------

Season 15

Richard Jefferson Ralph Sampson
Season 2015-16-
Team Cleveland Cavaliers-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA Champion-
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Richard Jefferson 74 17.9 5.5 0.2 1.5 1.7 0.8 0.4 0.2 0.6 1.7 1.9 4.2 .458 0.9 2.3 .382 0.8 1.2 .667
Ralph Sampson ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Richard Jefferson 21 18.1 5.4 0.8 2.8 3.5 0.7 0.5 0.0 0.6 1.6 2.1 4.0 .524 0.5 1.3 .393 0.7 1.0 .750
Ralph Sampson ------- --- ----------

Season 16

Richard Jefferson Ralph Sampson
Season 2016-17-
Team Cleveland Cavaliers-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Cavaliers Lost NBA Finals-
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Richard Jefferson 79 20.4 5.7 0.4 2.2 2.6 1.0 0.3 0.1 0.7 1.9 1.9 4.3 .446 0.8 2.4 .333 1.0 1.4 .741
Ralph Sampson ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Richard Jefferson 14 12.8 3.9 0.7 1.1 1.8 0.5 0.1 0.2 0.6 2.1 1.1 2.7 .421 0.4 1.4 .263 1.3 2.0 .643
Ralph Sampson ------- --- ----------

Season 17

Richard Jefferson Ralph Sampson
Season 2017-18-
Team Denver Nuggets-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not Play-
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Richard Jefferson 20 8.2 1.5 0.1 0.8 0.9 0.8 0.1 0.1 0.3 0.6 0.6 1.4 .444 0.1 0.4 .286 0.2 0.4 .571
Ralph Sampson ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Richard Jefferson ------- --- ----------
Ralph Sampson ------- --- ----------