He's been called the biggest bust in the history of the NBA. Darko Milicic, a largely unknown player from Serbia, was chosen second in the 2003 NBA Draft—right after LeBron James, and before NBA All-Stars Carmelo Anthony, Chris Bosh, and Dwayne Wade. Imagine carrying that burden—Biggest Failure of All Time—everywhere you go, forever.

Darko never developed his talent. For his entire career in the NBA, Darko played little and scored little. It was a miserable time in his life. A recent article on ESPN.com captured some of his anger and frustration. He would often come home after a game and channel his rage by punching holes in the walls of his apartment "I was so lost," Darko says. "I really came to hate basketball, you know? I just wanted to come back home and live another life."

Which is exactly what he did. He moved back to Serbia, settled down with his wife and children, and started a new life as a fruit farmer. The article concluded with a touching story about Darko's Christian faith. He regularly attends services at a local Serbian Orthodox monastery.

The monks know Darko. … One of them, Father Joanikije, says that one of the most important elements of Serbian Orthodox ritual is the notion of communal prayer. It is not enough to just perform the liturgy; it must be done together, and, afterward, people gather in this tranquil place and talk. Not just about religion or faith or scripture but about life. They share.

Darko never leaves early. This is where he comes for reflection and confession and expiation, and each time, he … . relives the moments [of his basketball failures] that feel the worst. "You have to talk," Darko says. "When you have something inside you that's killing you, it's eating you inside, you have to talk to somebody. That's the only way you're going to take it out."

He sums up his life and failures it in biblical language: "I kind of feel like Old Darko died. Like, when I think about myself, or myself when I was playing, I feel like I'm sort of thinking about someone who is dead"