No championship for the Pistons since ’04, but was it their own fault? If you’d ask most NBA experts today, they’d tell you the team’s 2003 Draft decision was a blunder. Pistons chose Darko Milicic over Carmelo Anthony and the franchise still gets criticized for this move. However, what some forget is that a perception about the 7 ft Milicic at the time was also that the Pistons were getting the next Dirk Nowitzki. Clearing out further what went on during the ’03 was ex-Pistons star Tayshaun Prince on the Knuckleheads Podcast.

Speaking on the latest episode, Prince stated even he and his teammates were initially under the impression that they will be getting Carmelo Anthony. He, however, explained what could’ve led to the franchise changing its mind. “I think how management looked at it was like they found their future small forward in me. ‘Let’s take a chance on Darko,'” Prince stated. He further mentioned the team also had Mehmet Okur at the time and Rasheed Wallace later joined in.

The Turkish star, though not known for an exceptional contribution to the team, provided the needed support coming off the bench. Seemingly, the reason that the Pistons decided to get another player from the overseas basketball scenario. At least, that’s what Prince’s reference seems to indicate. “So it was like, however they (Pistons) want to call it was like, ‘we’ll take a chance on Darko,'” he said.

Admitting that the decision shook him and his teammates, he admitted things could have been a lot different with Carmelo Anthony. Darko played just two seasons with Detroit. Barely did anything with his 1.4 and 1.8 points per game contribution in these two seasons. And still got to claim a championship with the team, which supports Prince’s claim of the potential that Melo could have brought.

Even Anthony himself stated during one of his All the Smoke podcast appearances that he could’ve led Pistons to another title. “I wouldn’t jump out there and say we three-peat. I think we’d go back-to-back if I’m there…” he said. However, it’s not as if there was any lack of effort from Melo’s end to try and land with Detroit.

Carmelo Anthony was trying to find Milicic back in 2003

Melo once went on a mission. To find Darko Milicic after hearing rumors that the Detroit Pistons might pick him over Anthony in the 2003 NBA Draft. While speaking with Dwyane Wade on his podcast, Anthony opened up about how much he wanted the Pistons to select him with the No. 2 pick.

Determined to prove himself, he raced around Detroit, trying to locate Darko and work out with him. “To show like, I’m the number two. I might be the number one pick is what I’m saying… So I got to prove that… So, yeah, I gotta find this guy. Wherever he’s at… I gotta play him. I gotta show what time it is with these scouts,” Melo said on the podcast. However, this claim, made this year itself, did not go unreplied by Milicic.

Responding to it on Jao Mile Podcast, the Siberian player found it amusing that Anthony was still talking about their draft rivalry years later. “What are you whining about? You’re third! What do you want? Are you crazy? Maybe if I were third, I’d still be playing, and he’d be picking apples,” he said. He further brushed off the whole situation. Labeling it as an exaggerated story driven by emotion, and concluded that Melo needs to calm down. Whatever Darko may say now, statistically speaking, Melo would without a doubt have been a better fit for Pistons.

Stay tuned for more such updates. And join us for the exciting second episode of the “Dual Threat Show” as our host BG12 sits down with Georgia Bulldogs star and Mountain West All-Freshman Team Selection, Asia Avinger.