There are very few player archetypes that compare to the modern stretch-four when it comes to making a winning impact on a basketball game. The NBA realized this years ago, and now some of the best players in the league fall into this category. That said, college basketball is an entirely different game, and because of that it seems that the stretch-four hasn't fully taken over like it has in the NBA. However, it seems that some of the top programs in the nation are starting to catch on, including the Tennessee Volunteers, who recently added Charlotte transfer Igor Milicic Jr. Milicic has been on my radar for a while now as one of the more intriguing prospects for the 2025 NBA Draft cycle, but I wanted to see where he landed before I put an article together breaking down his game. Now that he's officially joining Rick Barnes and staff in Knoxville, I'm ready to dive deep and tell you why I think he's a real breakout candidate heading into this season.
pc: UNC Charlotte Athletics
Player Profile:
Igor Milicic was born in Pula, Croatia in 2002. He was born into a basketball family, as his father Igor Milicic Sr was a professional player himself and is now one of the top coaches in Poland. Both of his younger brothers, Zoran and Teo, are prospects currently playing in Europe. Igor played professionally in Germany, first in the B League for Orange Academy Ratiopharm before stepping up to the Basketball Bundesliga with Ratiopharm Ulm for three games. His first taste of NCAA hoops was with Virginia, where he spent one season before transferring to UNC Charlotte. At Charlotte, Milicic slowly blossomed into the prospect that he is today. After a sophomore season where he came off the bench to play just over 21 minutes per game, it was his junior campaign where he became the team's best player. This season, the 6'10" and 225lb Milicic averaged 12.8 points per game, 8.5 rebounds, 1.7 assists, 1.1 blocks, and .7 steals on efficient shooting splits of 48.7% from the field, 37.6% from three, and 81.8% from the free-throw line. He's a super versatile big who makes his biggest impact on the defensive end. He's a true three-level scorer on the offensive end, acting as a matchup nightmare for opposing teams. Now that he's joining a Tennessee team that will have a ton of supporting pieces around him (even though he's definitely a supporting piece himself) I think there's a chance he looks even better against stronger competition. With all of that said, let's break down Milicic's game from top to bottom.
Interior Scoring:
As far as Milicic's scoring arsenal is concerned, his interior scoring is probably his least intriguing trait. Why? Because you expect a near 7-foot forward to be able to score inside. It's when he starts showing off his game away from the hoop when he becomes the prospect that I think he is. That said, he's still a very good scorer around the rim, and his ability to space the floor further strengthens his ability to score inside. The most interesting aspect of his inside scoring is his vertical spacing. For being as tall as he is, he's an incredibly fluid athlete with a ton of vertical pop. When he gets a full head of steam, he can really cause havoc above the rim. When you combine that stellar athleticism with his crafty footwork and soft touch, you paint a picture of a player who has a nearly complete package near the hoop.
Milicic is a capable interior scorer with the ball in his hands (definitely more so than most true forwards), but he's at his best off the ball. He's an excellent roller with great hands. His ability to contort in the air and still finish these attempts shows off his soft-touch and fluidity with the ball. You rarely see a guy his size this comfortable in these positions. The clip above that really illustrates these things is the third, where Milicic is able to finish the layup after catching the pass mid-air without coming down. Seeing a 6'10" player make plays that are usually reserved for soft-touch guards is something that should surely raise some eyebrows.
This is where things get really interesting. While I did just say that Milicic is at his best off the ball, there's an argument to be made that he's just as impactful with it in his hands. There is no arguing his ability to handle the ball, especially when compared to other players of his size and position. That said, what really stood out to me while studying his game was his ability to quickly change directions and accelerate. His tendency to attack from the perimeter using pump fakes and change of pace tends to result in positive results more often than not. We will talk about his outside shooting more later, but just know that his three-point shooting opens up the floor for him greatly. Defenders have to rush to closeout on him, which he uses as an opportunity to penetrate the defense and get near the rim. Once he's in that region his finishing acumen both around and above the rim separate him from his peers. On top of all of that (and I'm aware I just did some rambling), his quick decision making is what pushes his game above and beyond. Knowing when to attack, when to be patient, and when to reset the offense is an incredibly important aspect of his game.
I've already mentioned his soft touch, but I think the above clips of him knocking down a couple of floaters illustrate it perfectly. When you compare this aspect of his interior scoring to the clips from a moment ago when he actually makes it all the way to the rim, you can see why he's such an effective scorer in this region. This is a player who is not predictable. In these clips he attacks the rim in the same way he did in a few of those earlier clips, but he finishes with the floater. That ability to throw multiple different looks at opponents makes him incredibly difficult to stop.
Just like that, when you think he's a below the rim finisher or a guy who only settles for floaters when he's moving downhill, he elevates. The first clip shows a relatively average dunk, but it also shows how fast he can accelerate towards the rim and around his man. From standing still to moving at full speed within two steps is a trait that is primarily reserved for guards, but Milicic is an incredibly unique athlete. The second clip is clearly the play that should show you just how athletic this guy is. He is forced to change directions as soon as he catches the ball near the perimeter, and despite that is still able to pick up enough speed to pick the ball up on the free-throw line, take one step, and throw down an emphatic poster dunk over a very good center in Vladislav Goldin. As we get further into this article, and you see just how well-rounded Milicic's game is, it's going to make this play look even more impressive. Remember, this is a guy who could have very well caught that ball and pulled up for three. Instead, he threw down one of the best dunks of the year. Guys with his build and at his position are not supposed to be capable of this stuff.
Mid-Range Scoring:
In the previous section I mentioned how impressive Milicic's touch is. The clips showing the floaters and those finger roll layups were great examples of this. That said, even better examples come via his in-between game. Milicic is a fantastic scorer from this region of the floor, and he finds these points in a myriad of ways. Of the three levels, this is his least prevalent, but seeing that these shots are considerably less efficient than inside attempts or threes, that's completely fine. Being a high-level scorer and shot creator from this area is incredibly important if a player wants to be difficult to gameplan for, and I think that's why this is such a vital aspect of Milicic's game.
Milicic generates these looks in two primary ways, the first being via a post-up. What makes him so difficult to defend on these attempts is that he doesn't take the same shot every time. Even when you know that the post-up is going to result in a jumper, that shot can come in a variety of ways. In the first clip you see Milicic muscle and spin his way to the hoop before creating just enough space to get the shot up. By the time he takes the shot he's close enough to the hoop to legitimately threaten an interior attempt. This leaves the defender guessing and makes the eventual shot considerably less contested. In the second clip you see a more traditional turnaround mid-range jumper. This is what the majority of his post-up jumpers are going to look like, and he's incredibly comfortable taking them. His height and length also make these shots wildly difficult to get a good contest on. I'm not going to compare it to Dirk's mid-range turnaround, because obviously he's not Dirk, but it's a similar situation where the length creates all the space necessary to basically get an open look every time.
His other primary method of creating these shots is to attack from the perimeter. Just like how he attacks the rim by threatening the outside shot, he also likes to generate mid-range looks when defenders are forced to close out. In the first clip all Milicic needs is a half-hearted shot fake to get the defender flying in the air before taking one step and one dribble and pulling up for the jumper. What stood out to me here was how quick he relocated to the three-point line once his teammate grabbed the offensive board. He knows that by doing this he stretches out the defense and will either get an open look from beyond the arc or create the necessary space to move into his mid-range jumper. It's just a smart and quick decision within the flow of the offense that results in a great look. The second clip is where things get a tad bit flashier. Here he finds himself matched up against a big who is not prepared to defend Milicic beyond the perimeter, so he gets a little crafty to create his own offense. Again, and I'll keep saying this throughout this write up, guys his size aren't supposed to be able to do this.
Three-Point Shooting:
I would argue that the most important aspect of Milicic's offensive game is his outside shooting. While he's fantastic both near the rim and in the mid-range, it's his outside shot the truly separates him from his peers. His ability to knock down these shots as both an off-ball operative and an on-ball creator at his size has to be one of the more impressive offensive tools of any player in the country. You don't even see a ton of guys of Milicic's archetype knocking down shots like this at the NBA level. The first name that comes to mind for me is Lauri Markkanen, who while he is obviously a much better offensive player than Milicic, does have a very similar skillset on this end of the floor. Allow me to explain before you call me crazy.
The large majority of his scoring output from beyond the arc is via off-ball actions. This is the kind of stuff that reminds me of a player like Markkanen, who is probably the second best off-ball shooter in the NBA. While he is a solid catch-and-shoot shooter, I think his most impressive work is when he runs to meet the ball via off-ball screens. This ability to shoot while in motion is something that professional organizations will be drooling over when he eventually goes through the draft process. Another trait that reminds me of some of the better off-ball shooters in the league is his back-pedaling shot. His ability to relocate beyond the arc, receive the pass, and knock down these difficult shots over contests is incredibly impressive. He doesn't take many pick-and-pop threes as he prefers to roll and attack the rim, but that's another thing I think he should and could add to his outside arsenal. I think that if he gets paired up with a high-level playmaker at some point in his career he could get considerably better in this department. He made 37.6% of his threes this season, but the level of difficulty on those shots is pretty high. There's a world where if a creator were to make those shots easier on him, you're looking at a near 7-footer who could knock down over 40% of his outside attempts.
Milicic isn't a super dynamic shot-creator from beyond the arc, but I believe he can be. I've seen too much promise from his mid-range and interior games to think he's incapable of being an outside shot creator. I just think he's considerably better working off-ball, so why force him to do something he's going to be less successful at? The two clips above aren't real self-creation clips, in fact, the second one is a catch-and-shoot look. The first is a relatively basic look where Milicic has the ball the entire play, so while it is considered a self-created look, it's nothing crazy. What stood out to me about these clips was the range of which he's making these shots. He is crazy deep taking these threes, and he looks just as comfortable in these spots as he does right on the line. That comfortability at that distance is all I need to see to feel confident that there should be no worries about his long-term outlook as an outside sniper.
Playmaking & Passing:
I wouldn't consider Milicic to be some sort of elite playmaker, but I do think he's a smart decision maker with real passing skills. His height allows him to see clearly over defenders, and his length allows him to cleanly deliver passes above and around defenders. He's not a flashy passer by any means, but I think he's better in this department than his 1.7 assists per game would lead you to believe.
These are some clips that illustrate what I was talking about when I said he uses his height and length to strengthen his passing. In the first clip he very clearly looks over the top of the defender before delivering the pass over him. In the second he's matched up against a smaller defender in the post, so when Duke sends the double team he simply turns around and delivers the pass to his cutting teammate. These aren't difficult plays to make, but they show off how he can make a difference as a smart passer. Big men who can playmake from the perimeter are incredibly valuable, and Milicic has this skill. The second clip shows his interior gravity and his willingness to make the easy pass instead of pressing the issue. Plays like these tell me that he is actively thinking about the game, which is something that is far more valuable than you may think.
Here are a few looks at what could be considered flashier passes, especially the second clip. In the first clip he shows off a very difficult pass that I believe to be replicable. Being able to put a one-handed bounce pass on a dime around a defender to a spot where his teammate WILL be, not where he currently is, is incredibly impressive. Why do I think this is replicable? Because he clearly looks very comfortable making this play, and it was clearly drawn up. Obviously, Charlotte was confident in his ability to make that pass, and they were right. The second clip shows Milicic pulling off a no-look pass that was completely on the fly, a pass that even the recipient wasn't ready for. He gathers the loose ball while maintaining the knowledge that a teammate is in the corner and proceeds to throw the pass without checking to see if his teammate was still there. Plays like these show me that Milicic is capable of handling more playmaking responsibilities, and while I don't believe he has primary playmaking potential, his secondary playmaking skills are very real.
Defense:
Despite all that talk about Milicic's offensive game, his biggest impact is made on the defensive end. He is an incredibly versatile defensive weapon who uses his instincts, physical tools, and raw athleticism to be a game changer on this end of the floor. Let's break down how Milicic is able to swing games by putting his best foot forward as one of the best defenders in college basketball.
Milicic's best defensive trait is his rim protection, but that doesn't mean he can't show off his defensive acumen in other ways. His defensive IQ is top notch, and he combines that IQ with his length to interrupt the entire flow of an opposing offense. These clips give you a few solid examples of how he jumps passing lanes and gets a hand on the ball by both being in the right place at the right time and by properly using his physical tools. In the first clip you see him time up the steal perfectly, and to be honest he makes it look easy simply by being in the right spot on the floor. The second and third clips give you a great look at how he uses his length to find the ball before his opponent can get to it. In the second clip he simply outreaches his matchup to get the steal, and in the third he lets his rotation do the work while having his hands in the air to force the turnover. For most players these plays would be wildly difficult, maybe even impossible to make depending on their wingspan, but for Milicic they are just average run-of-the-mill defensive possessions.
That agility that we saw from Milicic on the offensive end translates to his defensive game. His ability to protect the rim by funneling players on the perimeter into the paint before picking up blocks is a major strong suit of his game. A huge part of this is his lateral quickness, which allows him to stick with smaller players as they attempt to penetrate the defense. When matched up against big men on the perimeter who may have some ball-handling skills, he's able to stand his ground and use his strength to keep them from gaining any major advantages on their drives. In the first clip the opposing player tries to go through Milicic, but he isn't fazed by this and is able to stick with his guy to pick up the block. The second clip is similar, but this time Milicic is knocked slightly off balance. However, instead of getting taken out of the play when his man spins toward the basket, he recovers to pick up the block. Finally, the last clip is the perfect play to show off his agility, strength, and rim protection in totality. He plays help defense on the ball handler, he closes out to the shooter, he sticks to the body of his man when he drives, and he goes up for the very easy block. What makes Milicic such an effective rim protector is that he puts himself in the best position to get these blocks, and he puts his opponent in the worst position to get a good look at the basket.
Now these plays show off more of his physical tools in action, as he picks up these blocks on shots away from the basket using his length and vertical pop. Like the previous clips, he does a good job of being in the right spot to contest these shots. Another thing he's really good at is not picking up fouls. Plays like this are very difficult to pull off without picking up ticky-tack fouls, but for the most part Milicic is able to avoid that just by timing his contests perfectly. Even when he doesn't get a hand on the ball, he always gives an excellent effort. I don't think I have to explain why a 7-foot guy who can jump out of the gym coming at a shooter full speed is likely to throw off the shot.
At the end of the day, his rim protection is just fun. Whether it be him tracking the ball in transition and pinning it against the backboard, or completely denying projected lottery pick Kyle Filipowski at the rim, Milicic finds the highlight plays. I think you forget how athletic the guy is sometimes, and then he pulls plays like these out of his hat. I'm not sure if he can be a primary interior defender or a drop big at the next level just because he doesn't have the build of a traditional center...but imagine this guy in help. If a player like Milicic is your secondary rim protector, you'd be looking at one of the most dynamic defensive frontcourts in the league.
Summary:
Before I summarize Milicic's game, I want to list out anything that I view as a weakness of his game. That said, a player as versatile as Milicic who impacts the game on both ends is going to have significantly less weaknesses than your average big man.
Lacks strength as an inside scorer yet doesn't lack it as an interior defender. I'm not sure why this is, but he has difficulty getting to the rim against bigger defenders but is able to stand his ground on the other end.
Wavering willingness to take over a game on offense when necessary. Sometimes he's up to the challenge, other times he defers to his teammates.
Questionable shot selection at times, but for the most part he maintains his efficient shooting despite this.
Unproven playmaker who does deal with turnover issues at times. I would like to see his passing tested more within the offense before I form a concrete opinion on his playmaking.
Defends smaller and quicker opponents better than 90% of forwards, but still struggles with these players significantly more than when he matches up against big men. I don't know if I'd consider this a "weakness", but it is worth noting he's not some sort of impenetrable defender.
To summarize Milicic's game, he's a player whose versatility makes him an incredibly impactful contributor on both ends of the floor. Despite being a borderline 7-footer, he's a true three-level scorer who can play below, around, and above the rim. His offensive game fits the mold of the modern stretch big, but in a way that involves more than just catch-and-shoot and pick-and-pop looks. When he threatens the outside shot, it opens up the floor for him and his team and makes putting points on the board relatively easy. In addition to his dynamic offensive game, I would argue that he's even better on the defensive end. His unique set of physical tools combined with his elite feel for the defensive game makes him a truly gamebreaking defender. I have no worries about his defensive game translating to the next level, and I think this will be apparent this season as he doesn't have to shoulder as much of the defensive load for Tennessee. There's a reason why he chose to play for Rick Barnes, who is one of the better defensive coaches in all of college basketball. You don't see many prospects with this particular set of skills, which is why I think he's a major player for the 2025 NBA Draft.
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