'He was supposed to be a basketball wizard' -Darko Milicic found peace by settling into a new profession after being one of the biggest busts in the NBA

Throughout NBA history, several players selected high in their draft class have struggled to live up to expectations, but only some feel as short as Darko Milicic. Picked ahead of Dwyane Wade, Carmelo Anthony, and Chris Bosh in the 2003 NBA draft, the 7-foot center was expected to be the missing piece that would transform the Detroit Pistons into a dynasty.

However, his career never took off. Not only did he never average points in double digits throughout his career, but he was also shipped from one team to another before being forced to retire at the age of 27. Despite being labeled as one of the biggest draft busts, Darko ultimately found fulfillment in a different career path.

Milicic was expected to be the NBA’s next big star

At the time of his selection, Milicic was being compared to Wilt Chamberlain and hailed as a prototype for a new generation of big men. He was versatile enough to dominate in the low post and knock-open looks from beyond the arc. Consequently, while the expectations were high for the Serbian, he sat on the bench extensively throughout his rookie campaign.

Even in the 2004 NBA Finals, though he became the youngest player to appear in the championship round, his presence was negligible (averaging 0 points and 0.7 rebounds). However, many believed it could be the learning curb required for Milicic to make strides in the next season. However, injuries plagued his trajectory and limited him to merely 37 games in his sophomore year. Ultimately, by his third campaign, the Pistons traded him to the Orlando Magic midway.

In Orlando, his numbers improved, and he averaged 7.9 points and 5.1 rebounds, but he was far from reaching the star potential he was initially linked to.

Furthermore, Milicic continued his NBA journey with stints with the Memphis Grizzlies, New York Knicks, Minnesota Timberwolves, and Boston Celtics. Though he occasionally showed flashes of brilliance, he never established himself as a reliable center. By the time he retired at 27, his decade-long NBA career was deemed underwhelming, especially given the high expectations surrounding him as the second overall pick.

Milicic found his passion elsewhere

Unlike many players who pivot to European or international leagues after a subpar NBA career, Milicic chose a different path. As reported by Sam Borden in his ESPN feature, “The Human Victory Cigar,” he discovered his passion for farming, dedicating himself to plowing fields and growing fruit with his own hands.

“He became intrigued by agriculture,” Borden wrote. “A few friends were farmers, and that was appealing, but the element that drew Darko was the idea that he could master it. He was supposed to be a basketball wizard; that hadn’t quite worked out. Farming was another chance… He has 125 acres filled with apple trees and exports the apples to Dubai, Russia, and countries in Africa… When Darko talks about cherries, his eyes get wide. He gets passionate. He gets animated.”

While failing to meet sky-high expectations can crush one’s morale, Darko managed to carve out a meaningful life in a different field - both figuratively and literally.