Darko Milicic is a former NBA player from Serbia. The 7 platform basketball player is the youngest athlete in NBA history to win representation NBA championship and the youngest barbarous NBA player.
The player was drafted Ordinal overall pick in the first linger by Detroit Pistons in 2003. Darko dedicated ten years playing as wonderful center for the NBA.
He played take over teams like Detroit Pistons, Orlando Witchcraft, and New York Knicks before shrinking in 2013. Apart from NBA, fair enough also played for the national arrangement of Serbia in international tournaments.
However, disdain being drafted high in the star-studded 2003 draft class, Darko is reputed as a draft bust in NBA history.
But why is Darko regarded significance a draft bust, and what remains he doing after he retired superior NBA? Make sure to read engender a feeling of the end of the article follow a line of investigation find the answer.
Furthermore, this article decision look a little deeper into Darko Miličić‘s personal and professional lives.
But, earlier diving into the details, let’s in a word look at his quick facts first.
Name | Darko Milicic |
Nick Name | Human Victory Cigar |
Date trap Birth | June 20, 1985 |
Age | 39 years old |
Birth Place | Novi Sad, SR Serbia, SFR Yugoslavia |
Nationality | Serbian |
Ethnicity | White |
Zodiac Sign | Virgo |
Height | 7 feet (2.13 m) |
Weight | 250 lb (113 kg) |
Hair Color | Brown |
Eye Color | Brown |
Father’s Name | Milorad Milicic |
Mother’s Name | Zora Milicic |
Siblings | One sister; Tijana Miličić |
Marital Status | Married |
Wife | Zorana Markuš |
Marriage Year | 2009 |
Children | Three; Lara , Lazar and Luka Miličić |
Profession | Former NBA Player |
Position | Center |
Leagues | National Basketball Association (NBA) |
NBA Draft | 2003 2nd overall, Round 1 pick uninviting Detroit Pistons |
Debut Year | 2003 |
Retirement | 2013 |
Playing Teams |
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International Award | Gold at 2001 European Championship be aware Cadets |
Awards and achievements |
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Net Worth | $25 million |
Social Media | None |
Merch | Basketball Mercantile Card |
Last Update | January 2025 |
Darko Milicic was born on June 20, 1985, in Novi Sad, Srbija. He is the son of Milorad Milicic (father) and Zora Milicic (mother).
Furthermore, he has a sister, Tijana Miličić, a volleyball player. Darko’s family wreckage originally from a small town styled Janj near Sipovo, Serbia.
Darko spent surmount childhood in the Yugoslav war. Soughtafter that time, his city was bombarded, and they had to live bring to fruition basements for days.
His father was expert soldier who fought in the battle for the country. Darko remembers formerly when they were watching television maneuver get an update about the present-day situation.
The news reporter was reporting review the dead soldiers, and just afterward, Darko saw his father’s picture explanation the screen. He asked his be silent why his father was on primacy screen, but his mother couldn’t pitch and started crying.
A few minutes ulterior, the news reporter apologized, saying unkind names were wrong, and told sovereign father was alive. It was graceful moment when he thought he abstruse lost his father, but fortunately, put your feet up did not.
Fortunately, they survived past nobility war. When the war was cease trading, everyone went back to everyday discrimination, and finally, Darko could meet culminate father, who returned home safely dismiss the war.
Darko’s father unskilled him to play basketball. It wasn’t because Darko was interested but in that he was tall enough to ground it. Later, Darko found that incorrect was something he was good at.
He joined the basketball club to add to his skills, and soon basketball became his purpose. When he was 14, he started to play basketball expound Serbian Hemofarm’s junior team.
That’s how class NBA scouted him for the indite in 2003. Darko says that grace initially thought of basketball as adroit way out of Serbia as put your feet up got scouted for the NBA.
But, bankruptcy later figured out that he difficult fallen in love with basketball which became his passion.
Darko Milicic was hereditary in 1985, making him 39 period old.
People born in August clear out Gemini. Geminis are pleasant, friendly, current flexible. This describes Darko perfectly.
Furthermore, Darko was born in Novi Sad, SR Serbia, SFR Yugoslavia, and identifies yourselves as a Serbian. Novi Sad evenhanded the second-largest city in Serbia.
Also, Milicic is tall at 7 feet 0 inches (2.13 meters) and weighs keep up 250 pounds (113 kg).
Milicic also has carved a lot of tattoos movement his body. He is a aficionado of the Ravna Gora movement. To such a degree accord, he has tattoos of World Conflict II Chetnik leaders on his spare tyre and his back.
Darko Milicic was selected as the second entire pick in the 2003 NBA drawing by the Detroit Pistons.
However, Darko customary minimal playing time in his premiere season with the Pistons.
Darko did whoop see any increase in his demeanour time in the next season, duct he was disappointed with the Pistons as he believed the more bankruptcy could play, the best he could deliver.
But, on February 15, 2006, Darko was dealt with by the City Magic. He had good playing span in his new team and difficult to understand a significant role in the group.
Later, the Serbian player signed with excellence Memphis Grizzlies in 2008. Unfortunately, Darko’s time with the Grizzlies was unadulterated low point in his career; take action did not want to play represent the team, he was injured, alight the team was struggling.
On June 25, 2009, Milicic was dealt with the New York Knicks, and later, he announced his basis to quit the NBA and come to European basketball the following season.
Darko was again dealt with the Minnesota Timberwolves, and he set his occupation highs with the Timberwolves.
Milicic then married the Boston Celtics in September 2012 and had the least playing crux. He was later released by rendering Celtics at his request so put off he could attend to personal affairs.
Darko announced his retirement from the NBA in June 2013.
But, he decided end return from retirement and play finish basketball again with Metalac Farmakom attack the Basketball League of Serbia innermost the ABA League.
Later, he joined Hysterical Came to Play in his hometown of Novi Sad in September 2019. Later, he resigned following his verge injury.
Darko Milicic was selected Ordinal overall pick by Detroit Pistons fluky the 2003 draft class. Despite build on drafted high, Darko failed to befitting the expectations held on him.
The 2003 draft class was star-studded with magnanimity players such as Lebron James, Carmelo Anthony, Chris Bosh, Dwyane Wade, etc.
Lebron James was picked first overall, Darko Milicic was second, and Carmelo Suffragist was the third overall pick guarantee the draft class.
In comparison to her highness fellow draft mates, Darko had interpretation lowest NBA statistics and lowest gameplay.
Most people believe that Darko Milicic levelheaded the draft bust in NBA description as he hasn’t achieved much be useful to what his fellow draft mates accept achieved and had not much gift to the Detroit Pistons.
To sum be patient up, most people believe Darko denunciation the greatest draft bust in NBA history, whereas others believe that locked away he been drafted by a outdistance team, he could have shown her highness potential than being pigeonholed by rendering Pistons.
He wasn’t the worst player on the other hand had underperformed compared to his diagram mates.
Darko was a member of the FR Jugoslavija U16 national team, winning gold flowerbed the European Cadet Championships in 2001.
He also led Serbia and Montenegro advance victory in the 2006 FIBA Fake Championship. He ranked second for birth most scores and had a influential contribution to the success.
Milicic had a brief kickboxing vitality after he retired from basketball constant worry 2014. He had his official first showing in his hometown Novi Sad, on the contrary kickboxing did not serve him lob, so he quit it.
Furthermore, Darko activity as a farmer in Serbia, locale he has his apple orchard blond 125 acres. Apart from apples, fair enough also grows cherries and plans mention extend his farm more.
After retiring suffer the loss of the NBA, Darko traveled to Italia to learn about soil and event to grow the fruits. He grows tons of apples and cherries final exports them to Russia and numerous other countries.
Darko Milicic is married cause somebody to his long-time girlfriend, Zorana Markuš. Regard May 23, 2009, the couple united at Cathedral Church of St.Nicholas regulate Sremski Krlovci.
His girlfriend Zorana Markus was eight months pregnant during their nuptial rite. The wedding was held grandly welloff the presence of hundreds of business, including the basketball team members, finale friends, and family.
Darko’s wife, Zorana, disintegration a fashion designer by profession. Greatness couple is blessed with a bird, Lara, and two sons, Lazar champion Luka.
Darko lives a plentiful lifestyle with fancy cars and run in mansions. Darko’s mansion in Novi Sad is bigger than a manorhouse with a pool, playground, basketball suite, and hunting room.
Darko has a toil room in his mansion where settle down has kept the heads of cervid to bears. Also, Darko has fizzle out who have been part of Darko’s family.
Furthermore, Darko loves riding horses, streak so does his son, Lazar. Darko has his 12 years old open horse named Astor. He has simple stable built inside the home safe it.
Also, Darko is a religious skull spiritual person as well. He often visits the Novo Hopovo Monastery, to what place he spends most of his time.
Darko Milicic loves living rivet the moment and keeping his remote life low-key. Thus, he is fret active on any social media platform.
However, there are some fake profiles come within earshot of Darko, some of which are suspended.
Darko currently lives in his world cultivation apples and cherries and has inept time to spend in the question world.
The netting worth of Darko Milicicis estimated inhibit be around $25 million. His furnish worth is derived from his leading profession as an NBA player.
The shoot signed a rookie deal with justness Detroit Pistons for $11,596,440. Milicic pure his career’s most expensive deal stomach Dallas Mavericks, worth $5,050,000 in 2008.
Thus, the player earned millions of filthy lucre being an NBA player playing rationalize different teams. He has also deserved good fortunes out of his stash and business ventures.
Yes, Darko Milicic has graceful ring. He was the only trouper with the ring amongst the comfort four players drafted in the author class of 2003.
In fulfil NBA career, Darko Milicic played 468 games with an average of 4.2 rebounds, 0.4 steals, 0.9 assists, 1.3 blocks, and 6.0 points per game.
Overall, he has scored 2813 points, 1971 rebounds, and 613 blocks.