Sampson Says the Rockets Reneged on Offer

Ralph Sampson accused the Houston Rockets of going back on their word about his contract and said in an interview that he’s willing to play basketball elsewhere.

“I want to play in Houston,” Sampson told the Roanoke, Va., Times World-News, “but if it’s anywhere else, I won’t reject it as long as it’s on the team with a chance to win the championship.”

Sampson denied reports that the Rockets have offered him a contract more valuable than that of teammate Akeem Olajuwon.

“If we were satisfied, we would have signed it by now, and I’d still be with the Houston Rockets,” Sampson said.

Sampson added that Houston failed to offer him a deal as good as he had been promised.

“It just wasn’t comparable with what they had said,” Sampson said. “They went back on their word.”