SAMPSON LEAVES NBA FOR SPAIN

                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SUNDAY, January 5, 1992                   TAG: 9201050229
SECTION: SPORTS                    PAGE: C3   EDITION: METRO  
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: LANDOVER, MD.                                LENGTH: Short
SAMPSON LEAVES NBA FOR SPAIN
Washington Bullets center Ralph Sampson said Saturday night that he will immediately leave the NBA and join a professional basketball team in Spain.
The 7-foot-4 center joined the Bullets on Nov. 19 but appeared in only 10 games and was used sparingly. He was not used in any of the Bullets' past six games and announced his decision to leave the squad after spending the entire game on the bench in Washington's 113-99 loss to the New York Knicks.
He will go on waivers Tuesday, although he said his days with the Bullets are over.
"I love the NBA, so if anyone wants me they can feel free to give me a call," said Sampson, a former college player of the year with Virginia's Cavaliers.
Sampson said he would get more playing time in Spain than in the NBA, where he was on the bench behind Pervis Ellison and Charles Jones.
Sampson joined the Bullets after getting a buyout from his lengthy contract with the Sacramento Kings. He was paid the NBA minimum $130,000 to sign with Washington, and he said he will receive $225,000 to play in Spain, "depending on how I do."
Memo: a slighty different version ran in the State edition. It had Jack 

by Archana Subramaniam by CNB