Chosen by the Dallas Mavericks as the fourth overall pick in the 1984 NBA draft,[4] Perkins went on to play as a power forward and center in the NBA from 1984 to 2001.[10] He was named to the NBA All-Rookie First Team in 1985.[11] Perkins played for the Dallas Mavericks, Los Angeles Lakers, Seattle SuperSonics, and Indiana Pacers.[12] He scored a career-high 45 points on April 12, 1990.[13] Perkins tied an NBA record on January 15, 1997, by making eight three-pointers without a miss.[14] He appeared in three NBA Finals: The 1991 NBA Finals (with the Lakers),[15] the 1996 NBA Finals (with the SuperSonics),[15] and the 2000 NBA Finals (with the Pacers).[16] In game one of the 1991 NBA Finals, Perkins made a game-winning three-point shot to defeat the Chicago Bulls.[1] He was known by the nicknames "Sleepy Sam", "Big Smooth",[17][10] and "The Big Easy".[1]
In 2008, Perkins was named vice president of player relations for the Indiana Pacers.[19] That September, he was inducted into the New York City Basketball Hall of Fame.[20] Perkins held his position with the Pacers until 2010.[21]
In 2011, Perkins traveled to South Sudan as a SportsUnited Sports Envoy for the U.S. Department of State. In this capacity, he worked with Dikembe Mutombo to lead a series of basketball clinics and team-building exercises with 50 youth and 36 coaches. This helped contribute to the State Department's mission to remove barriers and create a world in which individuals with disabilities enjoy dignity and full inclusion in society.[22]
Perkins runs a summer camp for Chapel Hill, North Carolina youth that focuses on developing the basic skills of basketball.[23]
Personal life
Perkins was raised a Jehovah's Witness. During his professional career, he stood away from his line of teammates for the national anthem due to his faith.[24]
Perkins has the distinction of having the third-most playoff games appeared in without having been on a team that won the NBA Championship. The only players with more playoff appearances and zero rings, as of the 2020 season, are Hall of Famers and longtime Utah Jazz players Karl Malone and John Stockton.[25]