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The 10 Best Debuts Of The NBA Playoffs

By Josh Eberley

Apr 12, 2016; Auburn Hills, MI, USA; Miami Heat center Hassan Whiteside (21) is defended by Detroit Pistons center Andre Drummond (0) during the first quarter at The Palace of Auburn Hills. Mandatory Credit: Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 12, 2016; Auburn Hills, MI, USA; Miami Heat center Hassan Whiteside (21) is defended by Detroit Pistons center Andre Drummond (0) during the first quarter at The Palace of Auburn Hills. Mandatory Credit: Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports /
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LANDOVER, MD – CIRCA 1984: Ralph Sampson #50 of the Houston Rockets sitting next to head coach Bill Fitch looks on from the bench against the Washington Bullets during an NBA basketball game circa 1984 at the Capital Centre in Landover, Maryland. Sampson played for the Rockets from 1983-87. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images)
LANDOVER, MD – CIRCA 1984: Ralph Sampson #50 of the Houston Rockets sitting next to head coach Bill Fitch looks on from the bench against the Washington Bullets during an NBA basketball game circa 1984 at the Capital Centre in Landover, Maryland. Sampson played for the Rockets from 1983-87. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images) /

Ralph Sampson, Houston Rockets, 1985

Age 24
Points 26
Rebounds 24
Assists 2

Ralph Sampson was the original H-Town big man, drafted in 1983–one year before Hakeem Olajuwon came to town. Sampson was the biggest man on the court this night. The Houston center did shoot an 9-for-25 in the game, but in a win … a win with that massive of a double-double … I’m sure no one was criticizing.

The Rockets, of course, won the game, thanks to their big man duo. Coincidentally this was also Olajuwon’s debut. Olajuwon posted 14 points, 14 rebounds, and shot a marginally better 6-for-14 from the floor.

The Rockets were the No. 2 seed, their sole worry was a slashing wing for the Utah Jazz by the name of Adrian Dantley. Round one went to the big man duo from Houston but shutting down Dantley proved to be no easy task. The Jazz ended up winning the series in five games.

Next: Paul Pierce 2002