December 11, 2003 – Heading into an early season matchup with the only member of the 2003 draft class selected ahead of him (LeBron James), 18-year-old Detroit Pistons center Darko Milicic had yet to officially register an NBA basket. Twenty-two games into the 2003-04 season, Milicic had made just eight appearances (approximately 17 cumulative minutes of action) and was 0-3 from the field.
Of course, Milicic was also the only member of the 2003 NBA Draft Lottery to be selected and immediately stashed on the bench for the duration of his rookie campaign. Under the unique circumstances of being a No. 2 overall pick on an Eastern Conference Finalist competing for an NBA championship at a time when the G-League (then known as the NBDL) was in its infancy, Milicic was caught in basketball purgatory, not experienced enough to meaningfully contribute to a championship contender but with nowhere to go in order to further develop his craft.
Steve Kerr, meanwhile, was one month into his first post-retirement gig as a color commentator for the NBA on TNT. Having stepped away from the game following his fifth NBA championship the previous June, Kerr weighed in on Milicic’s future prospects. Despite using effusive language like “amazed” and “stunning” in describing Milicic, Kerr’s praise pales in comparison to that of many fellow analysts, scouts, and GM’s. For more on the Darko hyperbole: https://www.detroitbadboys.com/2014/9/24/6841293/rip-hamilton-reaction-darko-milicic-2003-nba-draft
Recommended 20-minute Mini-Doc on Milicic: https://vimeo.com/254213884
Video Rating: / 5
[Darko Miličić ] Darko Milicic’s Kickboxing Debut
[Darko Miličić ] Darko Milicic’s Kickboxing Debut
[Darko Miličić ] Darko Milicic’s Kickboxing Debut
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Darko Miličić
He was selected by the Detroit Pistons as the second overall pick in the 2003 NBA draft after LeBron James, and ahead of players such as Carmelo Anthony, Chris Bosh and Dwyane Wade. However, Miličić never received significant playing time during his 2 1⁄2 seasons with the team and was traded to the Orlando Magic in 2006. After stints with the Memphis Grizzlies and New York Knicks, Miličić was traded to the Minnesota Timberwolves in 2010, then signed a four-year contract in the off-season. However, he was released by Minnesota in 2012. He signed with Boston later that year, but was released after playing one regular-season game.
He represented the Serbian national basketball team internationally.
Darko would’ve thrives in today’s game
Imagine the beginning of carmelos career 🥲🥲
"Darko isn't getting many minutes. That's how it should be." Sure, there is no better way to develop players than to strap them from Europe while they are still young and then put them on the bench and in the small minutes that you let them play you don't let them play into their strengths. Darko Miličić being a bust is just as much the fault of the Detroit Pistons and the arrogant, ignorant American mentality as it was his fault.
Det 50
Cle 51
"They could have selected Carmelo Anthony."
Are you sure you don't mean "They could have selected Dwayne Wade"?
My man did become 300+ lbs….wtf how the hell did he let himself fall into that stereotype.
Bad development
This is actually a fascinating video
Lol 😆🤣😂😹
I still have my Nike warmups like the ones darkos wearing unfortunately they don't fit because I grew to be 7'1 300 pounds
U know wats crazy imagine if they let him shoot he could’ve atleast Ben a poor mans brad Miller
Only if the pistons selected Melo😫
Who else only knows about this from "How bad was Darko Milicic actuality?"
Zgazio te momak patkice😁
from higher pick than DWade to Kickboxer to apple farm owner
Darko bi zgazio Kikicu Golubovića !!!! Darko vojvodo pozdrav od ustaše iz Crne Legije🖤🇭🇷🇭🇷🖤💪✌
Nice Fight, Darko.
Best from Germany!