Darko Milicic remains one of the biggest "what-ifs" in NBA history. Drafted as the No. 2 overall pick in the historic 2003 NBA Draft by the Detroit Pistons , the Serbian center carried an aura of enigma throughout most of his career.
Enigma, because on a good day, he showed flashes of why the Pistons chose him over players like Carmelo Anthony , Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh . Yet those good days were far outweighed by the bad ones, and he played his final NBA game at age 27, even though the official retirement announcement came a bit later.
Still, at one point in his career, it seemed things could finally come together. In the Orlando Magic uniform, Milicic played consistently, and after a season in which the team reached the playoffs, the club didn't extend him, instead sending him to the Memphis Grizzlies .
"They played me so badly that at the end of the season, when I found out there was nothing from Orlando, I spoke with my manager and I said, 'Bro, anything but Memphis . Bro, that place is a dump, an absolute disaster,'" Milicic said on the "Luka i Kuzma Podcast." "My agent told me, 'Bro, you only have Memphis.' I said, 'Alright, let's go, free fall!'"
"When I got there… oh man," Milicic added. "I played a few games and thought I should say, 'Man, my lower back hurts '. I can't even think, you can't live here. Are you crazy? Bro, it's chaos, you know what I mean.' And that was it, bro, that's how I ended up there."
This came after a season and a half in Florida, where Milicic played 110 regular-season games and had strong playoff performances, averaging 12.3 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 1.0 blocks in 28.8 minutes per game – clear signs he was finally finding his rhythm.
Then came the cold shower as he was traded to Memphis, who had finished the previous season with a 22-60 record, making them the worst team in the league. The 7-foot center realized that after finally earning NBA relevance, a tough battle for survival awaited, and the city clearly didn't sit well with him.
Many players aren't particularly fond of Memphis, as it's a relatively small market compared to other cities, with limited nightlife, fewer cultural and entertainment options, and hot summers, which are less appealing for players used to bigger cities with more amenities. The city's higher crime rate also makes it less attractive for some.
Florida, in his mind, was incomparable to Memphis, and as he later admitted, he almost stayed there. Milicic also explained why Orlando initially offered him a $40 million deal and then withdrew it .
"I really expected to get some kind of offer from them, bro," recalled the former No. 2 overall pick.
"A year before that, they offered me $40 million and then pulled it back the next day. They got scared and told me, 'Your head isn't stable.' They offered it themselves and pulled it themselves. On top of all the games they were playing with my head, you've got that, offering and then withdrawing. Forty million over four years," he added.
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Who knows, after finally getting affirmation in the form of minutes and a contract, Darko might have had the career he envisioned. Orlando was building a strong team around Dwight Howard , and after a few seasons, they proved they had something special by reaching the NBA Finals.
Still, despite solid performances, Milicic wasn't part of those plans. In Memphis, he stayed two seasons, appearing in 131 games, but his stats and minutes remained below expectations.
In those two seasons, Memphis was locked at the bottom of the Western Conference with just 46 wins. Milicic eventually left Memphis and was traded to the New York Knicks .
This story was originally published by Basketball Network on Feb 4, 2026, where it first appeared in the Off The Court section. Add Basketball Network as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
