Darko Milicic
Photo: USATSI

Darko Milicic is considered as one the biggest NBA Draft busts. The Serbian center was the number two pick in the 2003 NBA Draft, just behind LeBron James and ahead the likes of Dwyane Wade and Carmelo Anthony. Despite high expectations, he never became a star in the league.

Having a teammate like Rasheed Wallace could have played a part in the way Milicic’s career developed. Alex Acker who was on the Detroit Pistons team during the 2005-2006 season, recalled Wallace trash talking Milicic and making it tough for him as a young guy coming over from Europe.

“Everyday you’re playing against Rasheed Wallace, who talks the most sh*t. He’ll talk you out of your game. As young as Darko was, he wasn’t ready for that every single day, every single night,” Alex said on the newest episode of 1-ON-1 with Basketball Network.

“It started all the way back from Carmelo Anthony; they could’ve had him. Or Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh. Hearing that and not paying out, it was kinda almost like you were attacking the mirror, the man in yourself, and not being able to actually be you.”