Tom LaGarde
Encyclopedia
Thomas Joseph LaGarde (born February 10, 1955 in Detroit, Michigan
) is a retired American
basketball
player who played in the NBA from 1977 to 1985. After playing collegiately at the University of North Carolina
, LaGarde was selected 9th overall in the first round of the 1977 NBA Draft
by the Denver Nuggets
.
At 6'10" and 220 lb, LaGarde played forward
and center
in the NBA. After spending his rookie season with the Nuggets, LaGarde spent the following two seasons with the Seattle SuperSonics
.
In 1980, he was selected by the expansion Dallas Mavericks
that offseason in the expansion draft
. LaGarde was the only team member who played all 82 games for the Mavericks in their inaugural 1980-81 season
, finishing second on the team in points to Jim Spanarkel
and leading the team in rebounds and block shots.
LaGarde saw his playing time diminish the following season, averaging just 19 minutes per game in 47 games for the Mavericks. LaGarde appeared in only one game that season before suffering a season-ending calf injury.
In 2008 he created a video parody of McCain-Palin called the Original Mavericks for Truth.
Detroit, Michigan
Detroit is the major city among the primary cultural, financial, and transportation centers in the Metro Detroit area, a region of 5.2 million people. As the seat of Wayne County, the city of Detroit is the largest city in the U.S. state of Michigan and serves as a major port on the Detroit River...
) is a retired American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
player who played in the NBA from 1977 to 1985. After playing collegiately at the University of North Carolina
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is a public research university located in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States...
, LaGarde was selected 9th overall in the first round of the 1977 NBA Draft
1977 NBA Draft
The 1977 NBA Draft was the 31st annual draft of the National Basketball Association . The draft was held on June 10, 1977 before the 1977–78 season. In this draft, 22 NBA teams took turns selecting amateur U.S. college basketball players and other eligible players, including international players...
by the Denver Nuggets
Denver Nuggets
The Denver Nuggets are a professional basketball team based in Denver, Colorado. They play in the National Basketball Association . They were founded as the Denver Rockets in 1967 as a charter franchise of the American Basketball Association, and became one of that league's more successful teams...
.
At 6'10" and 220 lb, LaGarde played forward
Power forward (basketball)
Power forward is a position in the sport of basketball. The position is referred to in playbook terms as the four position and is commonly abbreviated "PF". It has also been referred to as the "post" position. Power forwards play a role similar to that of center in what is called the "post" or "low...
and center
Center (basketball)
The center, colloquially known as the five or the post, is one of the standard positions in a regulation basketball game. The center is normally the tallest player on the team, and often has a great deal of strength and body mass as well...
in the NBA. After spending his rookie season with the Nuggets, LaGarde spent the following two seasons with the Seattle SuperSonics
Seattle SuperSonics
The Seattle SuperSonics were an American professional basketball team based in Seattle, Washington that played in the Pacific and Northwest Divisions of the National Basketball Association from 1967 until 2008. Following the 2007–08 season, the team relocated to Oklahoma City, and now plays as...
.
In 1980, he was selected by the expansion Dallas Mavericks
Dallas Mavericks
The Dallas Mavericks are a professional basketball team based in Dallas, Texas. They are members of the Southwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Basketball Association , and the reigning NBA champions, having defeated the Miami Heat in the 2011 NBA Finals.According to a 2011...
that offseason in the expansion draft
Expansion draft
An expansion draft, in professional sports, occurs when a sports league decides to create one or more new expansion teams or franchises. This occurs mainly in North American sports. One of the ways of stocking the new team or teams is an expansion draft...
. LaGarde was the only team member who played all 82 games for the Mavericks in their inaugural 1980-81 season
1980-81 NBA season
-Statistics leaders:-NBA awards:*Most Valuable Player: Julius Erving, Philadelphia 76ers*Rookie of the Year: Darrell Griffith, Utah Jazz*Coach of the Year: Jack McKinney, Indiana Pacers*All-NBA First Team:**Larry Bird, Boston Celtics...
, finishing second on the team in points to Jim Spanarkel
Jim Spanarkel
James Gerard Spanarkel is an American television analyst for the National Basketball Association. Spanarkel, who himself was a professional basketball player, was selected 16th overall in the 1979 NBA Draft by the Philadelphia 76ers and traded to the Dallas Mavericks in 1980...
and leading the team in rebounds and block shots.
LaGarde saw his playing time diminish the following season, averaging just 19 minutes per game in 47 games for the Mavericks. LaGarde appeared in only one game that season before suffering a season-ending calf injury.
In 2008 he created a video parody of McCain-Palin called the Original Mavericks for Truth.