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Poor Darko, he just couldn't cut it in the NBA like he did in kick boxing.Darko Milicic says it's 'not necessary' for fellow NBA pros to make fun of him
The 2003 NBA Draft is often heralded as one of, if the not the greatest draft class in league history.
There were superstars at the top of the draft such as LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh. Other players who made All-Star appearances included David West, Kyle Korver, Mo Williams, Josh Howard and Chris Kaman. Even guys like James Jones, Nick Collison, Kendrick Perkins, Kirk Hinrich, Boris Diaw, Leandro Barbosa, Steve Blake and Zaza Pachulia had lengthy careers as role players on successful teams.
But as much as the 2003 class is known for its production in the NBA, it's also known for having one of the biggest busts in draft history: Darko Milicic.
At first glance, Milicic's career is pretty mediocre. The seven-foot center from Serbia played 10 years in the NBA with career averages of 6.0 points and 4.2 rebounds per game. But the fact that he was taken No. 2 overall by the Pistons — who won the 2004 title with Milicic playing a mere 4.7 minutes per game — directly ahead of three consecutive picks that went on to make multiple All-NBA Teams is what makes his career such a huge disappointment.
Milicic's career was so meager that Anthony, the No. 3 overall pick in the 2003 Draft, responded "Who?" when Wade brought him up in a chat on Instagram Live last week.
The 2003 NBA Draft is often heralded as one of, if the not the greatest draft class in league history.
There were superstars at the top of the draft such as LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh. Other players who made All-Star appearances included David West, Kyle Korver, Mo Williams, Josh Howard and Chris Kaman. Even guys like James Jones, Nick Collison, Kendrick Perkins, Kirk Hinrich, Boris Diaw, Leandro Barbosa, Steve Blake and Zaza Pachulia had lengthy careers as role players on successful teams.
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But as much as the 2003 class is known for its production in the NBA, it's also known for having one of the biggest busts in draft history: Darko Milicic.
At first glance, Milicic's career is pretty mediocre. The seven-foot center from Serbia played 10 years in the NBA with career averages of 6.0 points and 4.2 rebounds per game. But the fact that he was taken No. 2 overall by the Pistons — who won the 2004 title with Milicic playing a mere 4.7 minutes per game — directly ahead of three consecutive picks that went on to make multiple All-NBA Teams is what makes his career such a huge disappointment.
Milicic's career was so meager that Anthony, the No. 3 overall pick in the 2003 Draft, responded "Who?" when Wade brought him up in a chat on Instagram Live last week.
Milicic addressed Wade and Anthony's comments in an interview with B92, a Serbian newstation.Carmelo Anthony "forgot" who was drafted before him in 2003 while talking with Dwyane Wade.
2003 NBA Draft (The 1st 5 picks):
1. LeBron James
2. Darko Miličić
3. Carmelo Anthony
4. Chris Bosh
5. Dwayne Wade pic.twitter.com/PDAzDj7ujT
— Lee Harvey (@MusikFan4Life) March 28, 2020
"As for these stories, so if my story is not told, thank God (Wade and Anthony) have succeeded — I have not," Milicic's statement said, translated from Serbian. "We are not kids, we are adults, I hope you are old enough to understand that life is full of ups and downs. ... It is not necessary to judge and ridicule when, thank God, you have not passed the path that I have. To them, as always, I wish everyone good and every honor on their careers and in further life a lot of success and less condemnation."