Ulm Talent Receives Prestigious Sportsmanship Award

LOS ANGELES – Teo Milicic, a 17-year-traditional prospect from Basketball-Bundesliga team Ratiopharm Ulm, has been recognized for his exemplary character and sportsmanship at the NBA’s Basketball Without Borders camp held during the NBA All-Star Weekend. Milicic was awarded the Patrick Bergmann Sportsmanship Award at the conclusion of the three-day training camp.

The camp, which brought together 40 of the world’s top high-school-aged basketball players from 29 countries, took place at the UCLA Health Training Center, home of the Los Angeles Lakers. The invitation itself was a significant honor for the young player.

Milicic Reflects on the Experience

After returning to Ulm, Milicic shared his thoughts on the experience.

“The weather there is beautiful and the city is incredibly big. It’s exciting to see how things operate in such a metropolis. I would be very happy if I could play basketball there professionally one day.”

Teo Milicic

Milicic was particularly impressed by the NBA’s training facilities.

“The training facility. Such a large NBA training facility is something very special. The work there is professional and you get many opportunities to take your game to a new level. This experience has further strengthened my dream of playing in the NBA one day.”

Teo Milicic

He too highlighted a memorable encounter with a basketball legend.

“The moment I met Vlade Divac in person for the first time. When I was younger, I used to listen to a Croatian song with my family in which his name appears frequently. I was able to sing the song to him and talk to him about it – that meant a lot to me.”

Teo Milicic

A Valuable International Experience

Milicic emphasized the benefits of training alongside international talent.

“It was a great honor. When you are one of around forty participants worldwide, that means a lot. In addition to valuable experience on the field, I was also able to learn a lot off the court. It was a great feeling to be able to present and compete on this big stage.”

Teo Milicic

A typical day at the camp involved early morning training sessions led by NBA players like Vlade Divac and Danilo Gallinari.

“I got up very early every day. We had breakfast between seven and eight o’clock, then we went straight to training. After a short warm-up, we were divided into groups and were allowed to train together with NBA legends like Vlade Divac and Danilo Gallinari. They helped us enormously with their experience. Then came the tournament, in which we played either 3-on-3 or 5-on-5. After an intensive day, we went back to the hotel where we could meet our families.”

Teo Milicic

Hard Work Pays Off

Milicic expressed pride in the recognition, attributing it to his dedication.

“The feeling that my hard work has paid off. Nobody sees how much I work in the hall or in the weight room outside of games or tournaments. The fact that I was able to take part in such a big event is a validation of this work for me.”

Teo Milicic

FAQ

Q: What is Basketball Without Borders?

A: Basketball Without Borders is an NBA initiative that brings together top high-school-aged prospects from around the world for a training camp and competition.

Q: Where was the camp held?

A: The camp was held at the UCLA Health Training Center in Los Angeles.

Q: What award did Teo Milicic receive?

A: Teo Milicic received the Patrick Bergmann Sportsmanship Award.