In 2003, Mike D’Antoni Said Darko Milicic Will Be A Better Player Than LeBron James

1 Min Read

2003 was a different time. At the time, George W. Bush was President, Cristiano Ronaldo made his Manchester United debut, and LeBron James was just a 19-year-old teenager from Akron, Ohio.

Of course, there was also Darko Milicic — a Serbian big man who, at the time, was projected to be among the best players in the game. He was drafted second by the Pistons but many thought he should have went number one (yes, over LeBron James).

Here’s what Mike D’Antoni said about him in ’03:

To be fair, LeBron James wasn’t nearly as well-rounded offensively back then. On the surface, it certainly looked like Darko had a wider scoring arsenal than any other prospect.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CBrYghihDKN

Unfortunately, things didn’t work out for Milicic. He spent three seasons in Detroit before he was traded to Orlando. In 12 total seasons, he averaged just 6 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 0.9 assists per game on 46% shooting.

Considering all that LeBron James has done, and where he stands now, it’s fair to say D’Antoni and there were very wrong in their assessment of the ’03 draft class. It happens to the best of us…

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Nico Martinez is a veteran staff writer for Fadeaway World from Brooklyn, New York. He joined Fadeaway World in 2016 and is currently residing in Columbia, South Carolina. Nico holds a degree in Sports Management from Columbia International University where he built a strong foundation in the inner workings of sports media and management. Nico's contributions have significantly enhanced the credibility and depth of Fadeaway World's content, earning him recognition across the sports journalism community. His work has been discussed in prestigious publications like Sports Illustrated. A dedicated follower of LeBron James, Nico often leads coverage on news related to the basketball star. With nearly a decade of experience in sports journalism, Nico consistently provides comprehensive and timely basketball news, engaging a wide audience of basketball enthusiasts.Nico's most desired player to interview, past or present, is Kevin Durant. He is particularly keen on asking Durant if he has any regrets about his career, especially concerning his departure from the Oklahoma City Thunder, and why he engages so much with fans on social media. 
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