Darko Miličić is a retired Serbian professional basketball player who had a career spanning over a decade. He was born on June 20, 1985, in Novi Sad, Yugoslavia (now Serbia). Miličić started playing basketball at a young age and quickly gained recognition for his skills on the court.
Miličić began his professional career in 2000 when he signed with Hemofarm Vršac, a Serbian basketball club. He played for the team for two seasons before being drafted by the Detroit Pistons in the 2003 NBA draft. Miličić was the second overall pick in the draft, behind LeBron James.
Miličić's time with the Pistons was not as successful as he had hoped. He struggled to find playing time and was often relegated to the bench. Despite this, he was part of the Pistons team that won the NBA championship in 2004. Miličić played a limited role in the championship run, but it was still a significant achievement for him.
After his time with the Pistons, Miličić played for several other NBA teams, including the Orlando Magic, Memphis Grizzlies, New York Knicks, Minnesota Timberwolves, and Boston Celtics. However, he never found the same success he had with the Pistons and struggled to establish himself as a consistent contributor on any of these teams.
Miličić's career was also marked by several off-court incidents. In 2007, he was involved in a physical altercation with a fan during a game. He was fined and suspended for his actions. In 2012, he made headlines when he announced his retirement from basketball at the age of 27. Miličić cited personal reasons for his decision to retire, including a desire to spend more time with his family.
Despite his struggles in the NBA, Miličić had a successful international career. He played for the Serbian national team and helped them win the gold medal at the 2002 FIBA Europe Under-18 Championship. He also played for the Serbian team that won the silver medal at the 2009 EuroBasket tournament.
In conclusion, Darko Miličić had a career that was marked by both success and struggles. He was a highly touted prospect who never quite lived up to his potential in the NBA. However, he was still able to achieve significant accomplishments, including winning an NBA championship and representing his country on the international stage.
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