LaGarde was a key player for the Tar Heels during the mid- to late-1970s. During his senior season, he averaged 15.1 points and 7.4 rebounds per game before hurting his knee late in the season and missing the year's final 13 games. Despite the injury, LaGarde was still named first-team All-ACC and second-team All-American by The Sporting News. Always a fine shooter, LaGarde shot 58.3% during his NCAA career and 61.2% as a junior. He was an academic All-American three times and played for his college coach, the legendary Dean Smith, on the 1976 gold-medal-winning Olympic team.

LaGarde's injury scared teams off, and he slipped to ninth in the draft, where the Denver Nuggets selected him. As a rookie, LaGarde played in 77 games, starting one, but was unimpressive. He shot 40.5% from the field and averaged just 4.0 points per game. The Nuggets cut bait after just one year, dealing LaGarde to the Sonics on draft day for their first-round pick, 17th overall, which was used on LaGarde's former ACC opponent, Wake Forest forward Rod Griffin.

"I didn't think anyone in the draft was as good as LaGarde," Sonics Coach Lenny Wilkens said at the time. "I think he can play both center and forward. He's strong and he's quick. I'm delighted. This means we can give Marvin (Webster) more rest."

In LaGarde, the Sonics thought they were getting a backup center. That changed when starter Marvin Webster signed with New York and the Sonics got 6-8 forward Lonnie Shelton as compensation. With Sikma considered a power forward, LaGarde slid into the starting center spot. He was still there 23 games into the season when he tore a ligament in his right knee (the opposite of the one he hurt in college) and was lost for the season. Before the injury, LaGarde had played very well, averaging 11.0 points and 8.3 rebounds per game on 54.1% shooting.

When he returned the following season, LaGarde found his starting job taken by Sikma, who had been forced to the center role and thrived there. LaGarde was not as effective as a reserve, averaging 4.7 points and shooting 47.7%.

After the season, the expansion Dallas Mavericks beckoned, taking LaGarde in the expansion draft. During the franchise's inaugural season, LaGarde played a major role, starting all 82 games. He led the Mavericks with 8.1 rebounds and also averaged a career-high 13.7 points per game. Injuries, however, continued to plague him. LaGarde played just 47 games the next season and saw his minutes and per-game averages fall off again. The Mavericks waived him, and LaGarde's career was essentially over.

Since retiring, LaGarde has taken up residence in New York. In the mid-1990s, he invented the sport of Inline Basketball, which combines roller blading and hoops. He has run the National Inline Basketball League. He is employed in sports marketing.