Garfield Heard was held in high esteem by teammates and opponents alike and played a role in his teams' successes wherever he played. After a very fine collegiate career at Oklahoma he debuted in pro basketball with the Seattle Super Sonics in 1970-71, and by the time he was in his second NBA season, was called a 'go-to-guy' because of his clutch-shooting. Traded to the Chicago Bulls early in the 1972-73 season, he averaged over 10 points per game for the first time in his career. 

Gar Heard notched career-highs with 1239 points in 81 games, with 15.3 points per game and 11.7 rebounds per in 1973-74 which helped the Buffalo Braves reach the NBA postseason playoffs. In 1974-75 he scored 11.1 ppg and 9.9 rpg and Buffalo made the playoffs again.

A fans favorite while playing with the Phoenix Suns from 1975-76 thru 1979-80 Garfield Heard is still remembered for his winning-attitude. In Game 5 in the 1975-76 NBA Championship Finals before a packed house of 15,320 at the Boston Garden the Suns and Celtics were tied after the first overtime period. Then, with just 5 seconds on the clock in the 2nd overtime Curtis Perry sunk a long-jumper to put Phoenix up 110-109. Boston then went to Hall of Famer John Havlicek, who put a basket in with 2 seconds left to put the Celtics up 111-110. After a Boston free throw made it 112-110, Phoenix threw the basketball to Garfield Heard "who miraculously sunk a long prayer to send the game into a third overtime," wrote the Boston newspapers... however Celtics reserve Glenn McDonald scored six points in the fourth overtime and give Boston a 128-126 win... 2 days later the Celtics defeated the Suns 87-80 at Phoenix for the 1975-1976 NBA Crown.