Tommy LaGarde

Thomas Joseph LaGarde, born February 10, 1955, is an American former professional basketball player who played in the National Basketball Association from 1977 to 1985. A forward and center listed at 6'10" and 220 pounds, he played collegiately at the University of North Carolina before being selected ninth overall in the first round of the 1977 NBA draft by the Denver Nuggets. In 1976 he earned a gold medal as a member of Team USA at the Olympics.

Shortly after his rookie season with the Nuggets, LaGarde was traded in June 1979 to the Seattle SuperSonics in return for a first-round draft choice. That year he was a member of the SuperSonics' NBA championship team, though torn right knee ligaments forced him to sit out the final five months of the season.

LaGarde was selected by the expansion Dallas Mavericks in the 1980 expansion draft. He was the only team member to play 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 blocked shots.

A recurring knee issue ultimately cut short his career, which ended in 1985.