Sports
Darko Miličić
born 1985 · basketball player, center
Serbian center whom the Pistons drafted second overall in 2003, ahead of Carmelo Anthony, Chris Bosh and Dwyane Wade, and who won an NBA championship ring with Detroit in 2004 despite barely playing.
- Born
Novi Sad, Serbia
age 41- Also known as
- the Human Victory Cigar
- Detroit years
- 2003–2006
- Field
- Sports
01 / The Detroit story
The Detroit story
The Pistons took the eighteen-year-old Miličić with the second pick of the 2003 draft, one selection after LeBron James and just ahead of Carmelo Anthony, Chris Bosh and Dwyane Wade, a choice that would define his career. Detroit already had a strong veteran roster, so the young center found little playing time behind Ben Wallace and Rasheed Wallace at the Palace of Auburn Hills. He still became the youngest player ever to appear in an NBA Finals game, and five days later, in June 2004, he won a championship ring when the Pistons upset the Los Angeles Lakers. Under coaches Larry Brown and Flip Saunders he remained mostly a bench player, averaging only a few minutes a night, and in 2006 Detroit traded him to the Orlando Magic. The gap between his draft position and his modest NBA career made him one of the most discussed draft picks in league history.
Highlights
- Drafted second overall by Detroit in 2003, ahead of Anthony, Bosh and Wade
- Youngest player ever to appear in an NBA Finals game
- Won the 2004 NBA championship with the Pistons
- Traded to the Orlando Magic in 2006
02 / Their Detroit places
Their Detroit places 1
Where they lived, worked, performed and liked to hang out. Closed and demolished places stay here too, because they are part of the city's history.
Played here · 2003–2006
The Palace of Auburn Hills
Demolished · 1988–2020
The Pistons' home arena during his three Detroit seasons; demolished in 2020.