Tom Gugliotta

One collector is trying to find a single signature from every man who ever played for the Jazz — all 370 of them, from the 1974 New Orleans team to today. For many of them, this page is the only one on the internet. Here is Tom Gugliotta: what he did on the floor, a few things most people never knew, and every card that carries his name. If you own something he signed — or you know who might — there is a note at the foot of this page.

The youngest of seven from Long Island got his chance when his father phoned an old friend, Jim Valvano, and vouched for him — Googs grew into an All-American at NC State. Drafted sixth overall in 1992, he made the All-Rookie Team in Washington, was the centerpiece sent to Golden State for Chris Webber, and peaked as a 1997 All-Star in Minnesota scoring over 20 a game. Utah acquired the veteran in 2004 for Keon Clark and Ben Handlogten.

In December 1999 Gugliotta nearly died on the team bus after taking a then-legal sleep supplement containing GBL — he collapsed and stopped breathing, and teammate Rex Chapman, alerted by phone, directed medics to the bottle in his bag. He played on, finishing with 13 NBA seasons.

HOW HE CAME & WENTPhoenix traded him to Utah in February 2004 with a first-round pick, a second and another protected first, for Keon Clark and Ben Handlogten. Jazz circles remember it as one of the better trades the club made — not for his play, but for the picks.

Full name

Thomas James Gugliotta

Utah Jazz tenure

2003–04

Position

Forward

Born

1969, Huntington Station, New York

Height

6′10″ (208 cm)

Weight

240 lb (109 kg)

College

North Carolina State

Drafted

1992, 1st round (No. 6), Washington