Ex-NBA Player Darko Milicic Forays Into Kickboxing

Minnesota Timberwolves forward Darko Milicic dunks against the Toronto Raptors during the first half of their NBA basketball game in Toronto February 4, 2011. Reuters

Darko Milicic, the no. 2 pick in the draft that produced the likes of LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony, Chris Bosh and Dwyane Wade is shifting to a new sport after an unsuccessful NBA career. The Serbian big man signed a contract with the World Associations of Kickboxing Organizations (WAKO).

The news was first reported by nbaserbia.com, a news site for NBA basketball in Serbia.

According to the same report, the official contract-signing will be done on Wednesday with Barbara Falsoni, Director of WAKO PRO. On the same day, the first match of Milicic’s kickboxing career will also be announced.

The 29-year-old Milicic is listed as a 7-foot, 275-pound centre during his NBA career, which saw stints with the Detroit Pistons (2003 to 2006), Orlando Magic (2006 to 2007), Memphis Grizzlies (2007 to 2009), New York Knicks (2009 to 2010), Minnesota Timberwolves (2010 to 2012) and the Boston Celtics (2012).

It was the Pistons which drafted him 2nd overall in the 2003 NBA Draft. He was picked after James, who was the overall number one pick in that annual rookie selection and came before eventual NBA stars in Wade, Bosh and Anthony.

The Detroit franchise with former general manager Joe Dumars is widely criticised for the move as it denied the chance for the Pistons to draft add star in the already talent-laden squad at that time. Rather, they chose Milicic who is undoubtedly one of the worst top draft picks in the history of the NBA.

Milicic averaged 6.0 points. 4.2 rebounds in 468 career games in the NBA.

Here’s Darko in training in kickboxing some months back: