Darko Miličić facts for kids
Miličić with the Minnesota Timberwolves in April 2010
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| Personal information | ||||||||||||||
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| Born | 20 June 1985 Novi Sad, SR Serbia, SFR Yugoslavia |
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| Nationality | Serbian | |||||||||||||
| Listed height | 7 ft 0 in (2.13 m) | |||||||||||||
| Listed weight | 250 lb (113 kg) | |||||||||||||
| Career information | ||||||||||||||
| NBA Draft | 2003 / Round: 1 / Pick: 2nd overall | |||||||||||||
| Selected by the Detroit Pistons | ||||||||||||||
| Pro career | 2001–2012, 2019–2020 | |||||||||||||
| Career history | ||||||||||||||
| 2001–2003 | Hemofarm | |||||||||||||
| 2003–2006 | Detroit Pistons | |||||||||||||
| 2006–2007 | Orlando Magic | |||||||||||||
| 2007–2009 | Memphis Grizzlies | |||||||||||||
| 2009–2010 | New York Knicks | |||||||||||||
| 2010–2012 | Minnesota Timberwolves | |||||||||||||
| 2012 | Boston Celtics | |||||||||||||
| Career highlights and awards | ||||||||||||||
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| Career NBA statistics | ||||||||||||||
| Points | 2,813 (6.0 ppg) | |||||||||||||
| Rebounds | 1,971 (4.2 rpg) | |||||||||||||
| Blocks | 613 (1.3 bpg) | |||||||||||||
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Darko Miličić (born June 20, 1985) is a former professional basketball player from Serbia. He is very tall, standing at 7 feet (2.13 meters), and played as a center. Darko played in the National Basketball Association (NBA) from 2003 to 2013. He holds a special record as one of the youngest players ever to play in the NBA. He is also the youngest foreign player and the youngest player to win an NBA championship!
Miličić was picked by the Detroit Pistons as the second player overall in the 2003 NBA draft. This was a very famous draft year, as he was chosen right after LeBron James. Other future NBA stars like Carmelo Anthony, Chris Bosh, and Dwyane Wade were picked after him. Even though he was picked so high, Darko didn't play as well as many people expected in the NBA. He won an NBA championship with the Pistons in 2004. But he didn't get much playing time with the team. He later played for several other teams, including the Orlando Magic, Memphis Grizzlies, New York Knicks, Minnesota Timberwolves, and Boston Celtics. He retired from the NBA in 2013.
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Early Life & Basketball Beginnings
Darko Miličić grew up in Serbia. His parents are Milorad and Zora. His sister, Tijana, is also an athlete who plays volleyball. Darko started playing youth basketball at a club called BFC Beočin. He had to take a break from basketball for a short time in 1999 due to difficult events in his country. After that, he joined a basketball school in Novi Sad called Sports World. There, he became a very strong player and caught the attention of bigger teams. Darko even played club basketball with his friend Nemanja Jokić, whose younger brother is the famous NBA star Nikola Jokić.
When he was just 14 years old, Darko began playing for the junior team of a Serbian club called KK Hemofarm. He was so good that he was called up from the junior team before being drafted by the NBA's Detroit Pistons in 2003.
NBA Career Highlights
Darko Miličić spent ten seasons playing in the NBA. He played for six different teams during his career.
Detroit Pistons: A Young Champion (2003–2006)
The Detroit Pistons chose Darko Miličić as the second player in the 2003 NBA draft. This was a big deal because the Pistons were already a strong team. They had even reached the Eastern Conference Finals the season before. Darko didn't play much in his first season. But he made history by becoming the youngest player ever to appear in an NBA Finals game. He was only 18 years and 356 days old! Just five days later, he won an NBA championship when the Pistons beat the Los Angeles Lakers in the 2004 NBA Finals.
Even after winning a championship, Darko didn't get a lot more playing time. He often said that playing in games was the best way for him to get better. In the 96 games he played for the Pistons, he averaged only 1.6 points per game.
Orlando Magic: More Playing Time (2006–2007)
In February 2006, Darko was traded to the Orlando Magic. This move gave him a chance to play more. In one game against the New York Knicks, he played 32 minutes and scored 13 points with seven rebounds. He also became known for blocking shots, averaging 2.4 blocks per game in his first 20 games with the Magic. In the 2007 playoffs, his scoring improved to 12.3 points per game.
Memphis Grizzlies: A Challenging Time (2007–2009)
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In July 2007, Darko signed a three-year contract with the Memphis Grizzlies. He started the 2008–09 season playing as a power forward. However, he had some injuries, including a broken knuckle. This time with the Grizzlies was tough for him. He didn't enjoy playing for the team, and they weren't winning many games.
New York Knicks & Minnesota Timberwolves (2009–2012)
Darko was traded to the New York Knicks in June 2009. Later, in February 2010, he was traded again to the Minnesota Timberwolves. The Timberwolves signed him to a four-year contract. The 2010–11 season was Darko's best in terms of statistics. He averaged 8.8 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 2.0 blocks per game. He was even fifth in the league for blocks per game that season! He had some amazing games, like scoring 23 points and grabbing 16 rebounds against the Los Angeles Lakers.
He started the 2011–12 season as the Timberwolves' starting center. But as the season went on, he played less. In July 2012, the Timberwolves decided to let him go.
Boston Celtics & Retirement (2012)
In September 2012, Darko signed with the Boston Celtics. However, he only played one game for the Celtics. In November 2012, he asked to be released from the team to deal with some personal matters. Darko Miličić officially announced his retirement from the NBA in June 2013. He finished his NBA career averaging 6.0 points and 4.2 rebounds per game.
Darko's NBA Legacy
As of 2023, Darko Miličić is still one of the youngest players to ever play in the NBA. He is also the youngest foreign player to play in the league and the youngest player to win an NBA championship. However, because he was picked so early in the draft (second overall), many people expected him to become a superstar. Since he didn't reach that level, he is sometimes called a "draft bust." The Detroit Pistons chose him instead of other future NBA stars like Carmelo Anthony, Chris Bosh, and Dwyane Wade. Some experts believe that if the Pistons had picked one of those other players, they might have become one of the best teams in sports history.
International Basketball Career
Before joining the NBA, Darko Miličić played for the FR Yugoslavia U16 national team. They won a gold medal at the European Cadet Championships in 2001.
In 2006, Darko led the Serbian national team at the 2006 FIBA World Championship. He was a key player, leading the team in rebounds and blocked shots. He was also second in scoring and assists. In one game against Spain, he played against NBA All-Star Pau Gasol and had an impressive performance with 18 points, 15 rebounds, and three blocks.
Life After NBA Basketball
After retiring from the NBA, Darko Miličić explored other interests.
Kickboxing Career
In 2014, Darko tried out kickboxing. He had his first official kickboxing match in his hometown of Novi Sad on December 18, 2014. He lost that fight in the second round.
Farming Life
Darko Miličić now works as a farmer in his home country of Serbia. As of 2017, he owned and managed a large apple orchard. He also had plans to buy more land and grow cherries.
Amateur Basketball Return
In September 2019, Darko decided to play basketball again, but this time for an amateur team called KK I Came to Play in Novi Sad. He played his first game with them on October 6, scoring two points and helping his team win.
Personal Life
Darko Miličić married Zorana Markuš on May 23, 2009. They have a daughter and two sons. His wife is a fashion designer. Darko has also shown a caring side. In 2010, he paid for five Serbian children with a rare illness called Batten disease to travel to China for treatment.
Images for kids
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Miličić with the Minnesota Timberwolves in April 2010
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Miličić (left) with the Pistons in 2006
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Miličić playing for the Memphis Grizzlies in 2008
