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Sign up for E-newsDarko's Hometown Fans
In drafting Serbian teenager Darko Milicic with the second overall pick in the 2003 NBA Draft, the Detroit Pistons have acquired a whole new set of die-hard fans. Milicic’s strong appeal to the vibrant Yugoslavian community in Metro Detroit was evident at the Pistons’ Draft Party at the Palace of Auburn Hills on June 26, where dozens of Milicic’s countrymen (and women) showed up in a limo for the party and cheered his selection by the Pistons.
“Darko will be a great player,” proclaimed Nikola Mladenovic, a Ford engineer who hails originally from the city of Nis in Serbia. “He will learn the NBA mentality, he’s a young kid who likes the challenge.”
The enthusiasm over Darko comes in large part from the attention he has generated in the media. Since January, reports have repeatedly described the potent package of polished fundamental skills combined with awesome size and athleticism that Darko will bring to the Palace next season. He has drawn comparisons to everyone from Dirk Nowitski to Wilt Chamberlain, in terms of his potential.
“All Yugoslavian players have fundamental skills, the ability to hit jump shots, dribble and shoot three’s,” said Jayson Galovski, originally from Macedonia and now living in Shelby Township. “When he gets a little more ‘street’ for the NBA and gains some muscle he will be amazing.”
The announcement of Milicic’s name by NBA Commissioner David Stern at about 7:40 p.m. was met with a tremendous roar of approval and ESPN cameras cut to a shot of the cheering, flag-waving Yugoslavians at the Palace. Immediately after, fans packed the Palace Locker Room Store and Milicic’s #31 Pistons home and road jerseys went flying off the shelves. Locker Room managers said 108 jerseys were sold by 8:30 p.m., after Darko’s selection.
Even with a strong Yugoslavian community to support him and teammate/countryman Zeljko Rebraca by his side, Milicic still faces a tough adjustment to life in the NBA. Raised in war-torn Serbia and Montenegro, Darko began living alone in a 400-square foot apartment and playing basketball professionally at age 14.
“He has fans all around him, there are people like us everywhere,” said Mladenovic. Asked whether he thought Milicic would face a tough adjustment to the U.S., Mladenovic confidently replied, “He will fit right in.”
With strong fan support and countrymen such as Rebraca, Vlade Divac and Peja Stojakovic to use as examples, Milicic’s switch to life in America should be relatively smooth. If his game finds the transition similarly painless, then the new Pistons fans might find themselves cheering and waving their flags during the NBA Finals.
“Darko will be a great player,” proclaimed Nikola Mladenovic, a Ford engineer who hails originally from the city of Nis in Serbia. “He will learn the NBA mentality, he’s a young kid who likes the challenge.”
The enthusiasm over Darko comes in large part from the attention he has generated in the media. Since January, reports have repeatedly described the potent package of polished fundamental skills combined with awesome size and athleticism that Darko will bring to the Palace next season. He has drawn comparisons to everyone from Dirk Nowitski to Wilt Chamberlain, in terms of his potential.
“All Yugoslavian players have fundamental skills, the ability to hit jump shots, dribble and shoot three’s,” said Jayson Galovski, originally from Macedonia and now living in Shelby Township. “When he gets a little more ‘street’ for the NBA and gains some muscle he will be amazing.”
The announcement of Milicic’s name by NBA Commissioner David Stern at about 7:40 p.m. was met with a tremendous roar of approval and ESPN cameras cut to a shot of the cheering, flag-waving Yugoslavians at the Palace. Immediately after, fans packed the Palace Locker Room Store and Milicic’s #31 Pistons home and road jerseys went flying off the shelves. Locker Room managers said 108 jerseys were sold by 8:30 p.m., after Darko’s selection.
Even with a strong Yugoslavian community to support him and teammate/countryman Zeljko Rebraca by his side, Milicic still faces a tough adjustment to life in the NBA. Raised in war-torn Serbia and Montenegro, Darko began living alone in a 400-square foot apartment and playing basketball professionally at age 14.
“He has fans all around him, there are people like us everywhere,” said Mladenovic. Asked whether he thought Milicic would face a tough adjustment to the U.S., Mladenovic confidently replied, “He will fit right in.”
With strong fan support and countrymen such as Rebraca, Vlade Divac and Peja Stojakovic to use as examples, Milicic’s switch to life in America should be relatively smooth. If his game finds the transition similarly painless, then the new Pistons fans might find themselves cheering and waving their flags during the NBA Finals.
