Nicknamed "Big Dawg",[3] he played power forward (and sometimes center) for six different teams in the National Basketball Association across 16 seasons.

[6] Coming off a senior season where he'd averaged 22.5 points and 7.6 rebounds a game in a strong college program, Carr was selected by the Detroit Pistons in the first round (eighth pick overall) of the 1983 NBA draft.

Carr was signed as a free agent by the Utah Jazz on October 29, 1994, where he was a periodic starter at the center position beside power forward Karl Malone.

Coach Jerry Sloan utilized Carr extensively during the two years that the Jazz reached the NBA finals – relying on his experience and ability to control the ball.

Carr helped the Jazz to victory in Game 5 of the 1998 Finals against the Chicago Bulls with several clutch jump shots.

After receiving an eye injury, Carr wore orange-tinted protective glasses for the rest of his NBA career.