Darko Milicic: “I Don’t Give a Bleep About the Money”
The Knicks’ Darko Milicic has told the New York Post that he is going back to Europe at the end of this season no matter what. I guess DNP’s in 15 out of the last 16 games will do that to a guy who was once the No. 2 overall pick in the NBA Draft. Plus, the Knicks signed The Ghost of Jonathan Bender – a dude who literally hasn’t played in years (and wasn’t really very good when he was playing)
and who will almost certainly get PT ahead of Darko when he’s activated on Sunday.
So Darko’s bouncing, and he’s making no bones about it.
“Whatever happens, I’m going back next year,” the 7-foot-1 Milicic said after yesterday’s Knicks practice at Moody Bible Institute. “It’s 100-percent certain. I have to be real and not lie. I’m not going to get it done in the NBA. I’m not going to get another opportunity and there’s nothing wrong with going back to Europe. I don’t want to create a bad atmosphere here, but it’s not working in the NBA.”
And he added this:
Milicic, picked No. 2 in the 2002 NBA draft, ahead of Carmelo Anthony, Chris Bosh and Dwyane Wade, said he will consider any European team.
“I don’t give a bleep about the money,” Milicic said. “I just want to enjoy the basketball. I’d like to have the ball in my hands and have an offense run through me. I’m not just a defensive player.”
Agent Marc Cornstein said he has talked to Donnie Walsh but not about any buyout or trade scenario.
“It’s not the blueprint we had hoped,” Cornstein said. “The team was very excited to get him and everyone thought he reported in great shape.”
People will always give the Pistons a hard time for taking Darko over Carmelo in that draft, but as with anything, hindsight is always 20/20. Detroit saw a guy who had everything needed to be a game-changer – Darko was a 7-footer with athleticism, who could block shots, and who probably showed great shooting touch in workouts. They had no way of knowing that he would never be able top put it all together, no matter where he played.
Source: NY Post
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December 17th, 2009 at 3:30 pm
Gunner J. Matthews says:
Not like anyone’s gonna miss him
December 17th, 2009 at 3:33 pm
emory says:
i may be in the minority on this one….but i think darko can ball
December 17th, 2009 at 3:45 pm
Chicagorilla says:
@emory,
I think he can ball too. Not on the level of the guys picked after him in the lotto, but he has first round/starting center ability. I never understood what the beef was with him. Especially on a team like NY who has no bigs, but the coach there is playing with the line-ups like a video game GM. Nate Robinson racking up DNP-CD’s like crazy! lol.
December 17th, 2009 at 3:52 pm
Rare Air says:
This took long enough. One of the top overhype/busts of all time.
December 17th, 2009 at 3:56 pm
Me says:
Always thought he never had a chance to be what he could have: a Dirk type. Honestly I feel dirks career would have mirrored darkos if Milwaukee never traded him. People see a seven footer and assume he should be on the blocks. I remember the Detroit players way back when talking about how well he shoots it from 3 range in practice.
December 17th, 2009 at 4:14 pm
life-p says:
I think he can ball also.
December 17th, 2009 at 4:20 pm
hahns says:
you put players on a short leash and their game changes; give them some room for mistake and you might see a different side to them- a better one.
not saying this is the case w/ darko, bc i dont know how good he actually is, but something worth considering.
December 17th, 2009 at 4:29 pm
POPPI GEE says:
Peace out, good luck and you probably should have bounced a long time ago.
December 17th, 2009 at 4:48 pm
sh!tfaced says:
I think he can ball too
…in Europe
December 17th, 2009 at 4:55 pm
dan says:
Atleast he’ll spend more time with adriana. you are the man darko, good luck.
December 17th, 2009 at 5:21 pm
ab_40 says:
dan, marko jaric is with lima. darko… I don’t know about him
December 17th, 2009 at 5:23 pm
w says:
I thought it was jaric that had adriana…
December 17th, 2009 at 5:26 pm
dan says:
@ab_40
someone else said the same thing. hmm. well then . I guess theres nothing else to say about darko. Lets go marko!
December 17th, 2009 at 5:40 pm
pleasepleaseplease says:
I’m not saying that Darko is the savior of this franchise, hell no, but two of the biggest weaknesses of the Knicks were lack of shotblocking and interior defense.
The fact that D’Antoni has Darko and Jordan Hill racking up DNP’s while watching David getting beaten up on defense every night, just shows you how terribly overrated this Coach is.
December 17th, 2009 at 5:51 pm
Heckler says:
finally. let his bum ass go.
he had his chance to shine in orlando and memphis. and he aint do shit either time!
December 17th, 2009 at 5:58 pm
ERIC says:
He actually did pretty well in orlando (earning a 3 yr $21mm contract) and played well in memphis for 1 year. granted two OK years out of a 7 year career arent anything to write home about. however he never got his chance in detroit and by the time he got to orlando, he wasnt mentally tough. remember he was like 9 months YOUNGER than lebron.
December 17th, 2009 at 6:02 pm
Heckler says:
detroit drafted him for no reason.
remember, on their frontline, they already had: ben wallace, tayshaun prince, corliss williamson, elden campbell and memhet okur. not to mention getting rasheed wallace later in the season.
they had no room for darko. it was just like when jermaine o’neal couldnt get PT in portland (grant,wallace,sabonis, etc..)
Detroit Pistons wasted a #2
December 17th, 2009 at 6:09 pm
dan says:
all ive got to say is him not being Marko is the worst thing that could have happened. Sorry Big guy….
December 17th, 2009 at 6:09 pm
Rizwan says:
2003 draft not 2002!
December 17th, 2009 at 6:36 pm
Ape says:
Darko can take on Rony Seikaly down low on any given night.
December 17th, 2009 at 6:54 pm
Guitar Hero says:
He’s an above average C in the NBA, but he’s a hell of a headcase, as most serbian players are.
December 17th, 2009 at 7:28 pm
Promoman says:
Darko really didn’t get a chance to develop. It’s no secret that Larry Brown has it in for rookies and that D’Antoni can be an undercover asshole. Who’s to say that Dwyane Wade or Carmelo would’ve gotten a chance to play if Detroit picked them? Nobody expected Wade to blow up like he has and Carmelo is only now learning to stay out of trouble. It’s easy to say that a guy sucks when he didn’t/doesn’t get the ball, floor time, and a margin of error. Of course, they’ll be no production.
December 17th, 2009 at 8:22 pm
QQ says:
This is why he’s just about the biggest bullshit that was ever drafted.
“I don’t give a bleep about the money,” Milicic said. “I just want to enjoy the basketball. I’d like to have the ball in my hands and have an offense run through me. I’m not just a defensive player.”
That fucking attitude just irks me. Yeah, all you cats could dream saying he didn’t have the chance, but even if he didn’t, look at that attitude. Damn. Who would want to work with a seven footer who accomplished basically nothing and tell you in practice ‘That’s not how you should use me! I NEED THE BALL IN MY HANDS!’?
Yeah, go back in Europe and have some balls in your hands, asshole.
December 17th, 2009 at 8:43 pm
Royal says:
@22: yeah who knows if melo and Wade would even be stars now if they were on such a short leash like darko was in Detroit
December 17th, 2009 at 8:46 pm
Bron42 aka Had Springs before slamball says:
He can’t ball for shit. And since when was he athletic? Your talkin about a 7 footer who broke his hand missing a 1 handed dunk right under the rim in garbage time. A guy who everyone cried “o he just needs time” on the pistons..magic…grizz…knicks.. But can’t seem to earn any.why you ask? Cuz he was never good. Just like Yi they staged his draft workout, has him shoot over a bunch of chairs and assistant coaches. If he had gone through real drills with real guys he would of never wen second plain and simple. He’s a 7 foot with no motor and soft skin.
December 17th, 2009 at 8:49 pm
Bron42 aka Had Springs before slamball says:
U guys talk like darko has only been on one team and just wasn’t gettin time. There’s a reason he didn’t get time. He’ll the magic forced him on the court so he could take some of the burden off Dwight but he sucked. Gortat is what darko was supposed to be. You think Memphis didn’t give him a chance when they were tryin to be the suns lite? You think mr. International d Antoni didn’t hope he would be decent so he’d have his Boris Dias type center and not eddy curry? Darko looks like he sucked because he does infact suck.
December 17th, 2009 at 8:58 pm
QQ says:
‘Darko looks like he sucked because he does infact suck.’
Perfectly stated. LOL.
December 17th, 2009 at 9:05 pm
Royal says:
@26: I hear what your saying and your correct for the most part,but IMO Darko was never given a chance to just play and learn from his mistakes , like melo, Wade , and bosh were allowed to do in their rookie seasons.I think him not having that chance to just “go out there and play” really stunted his growth as a basketball player
December 17th, 2009 at 9:05 pm
Pet Society Help says:
From the little footage I’ve seen of him,his game reminds me of a poor mans uwe blab. Guy is just nothing but ordinary, a liability on defense, crap on offense. He’s basically a lottery pick screener cause that’s all he’s good for.
December 17th, 2009 at 9:54 pm
Seven Duece says:
Not defending him, but he was more than serviceable when he played down in Miami. I think he wanted to be a perimeter player more though, and scoffed that he was never given the chance. No matter how you slice, no player wants to just be a role player their whole life. Some people accept what coaches give them and others challenge. His talent or work ethic never backed up his claims.
December 18th, 2009 at 12:01 am
Steve Jones says:
Dwayne Wade was drafted in ’03 not ’02 like the article states.
December 18th, 2009 at 12:27 am
str8ganksta says:
@21…
What’s with your stereotypin prejudiced ass comment about serbian headcases?
Pushi kurac, pichka!
December 18th, 2009 at 1:24 am
King says:
He showed he’s an NBA player in Memphis but I knew he wasn’t going to get any burn with That guy in NY as his coach
December 18th, 2009 at 5:31 am
Atom says:
Dude is straight horrible. Could never be anything better than a third string center on a decent team. Yea, he didnt get a lot of playing time his rookie year, but he didnt earn it. If that broke his spirit he was never going to be able to hack it in the league. Biggest bust in modern NBA history.
December 18th, 2009 at 6:05 am
porkpiehat says:
Everyone is missing the point here…1)did he actually say “bleep” instead of saying one of the other two words we all know would fit? And 2) if so, is that Euro-humour or is he really that Middle-Americanized from living in Michigan for three years?
December 18th, 2009 at 6:53 am
Pet Society Help says:
Bleep is Serbian for F#%@
December 18th, 2009 at 9:05 am
karizmatic says:
Darko is an egotistical bust who never had any shot of making it in the NBA, his ego is bigger than his skills, he probably won’t be that great in Europe either. If he was such an offensive player he could have at least done something to show that in the NBA
December 18th, 2009 at 11:07 am
BT says:
How does a guy who can’t hold on to the ball cry about not having it in his hands? I am beginning to have the sneaking suspicion that D’Antoni signed him just to fuck with Curry, not that I would mind that.
December 18th, 2009 at 11:44 am
eyes says:
D’Antoni down a hole. Should have went to Chicago. We could have had Mark learning on the JOB. The Knicks need a young coach or MARK JACKSON PERIOD. You guys also need an infusion of youth. Sebastian Telfair would fair well now starting for this team. Thank God we didn’t go after Sessions-bust. Chris Duhon Chris Duhon I tell you. How can you be so bad??????????????????????
Toney Douglas will be out the league in a few. He isn’t better than Andre Barret,Nate Brown,Omar Cook or Showtime Hill. Hey NY okay how about Sundiata Gaines he’s TEARING IT UP OFF THE BENCH. I forgot he isn’t European. Also any coach,GM or person that holds someone back,blackballs them,or blacklist them I wish you nothing but bad luck the rest of your life. You should never stunt another person progress. Who are you? Look at yourself in the mirror everymorning & ask for forgiveness. People showing power over others. WEAKKKKKKKKKKKKKK. If your a leader or strong this tactic isn’t needed or warranted. Usually means your hiding behind some napolean complex issues.
Why are the Knicks going after TMac. Is that our thing to go after Stars in the End. We almost had Grant Hill(I take that back-Phx)A.I.,Jonathan Bender,Steph Marbury,Steve Francis. We could stop anyday. Try them when they’re young. I still can’t believe we didn’t take Brandon Jennings. So smooth. Sorry Guys he can’t score 55 because I’m sure the first thing Skiles said is come back down to earth young man. It’s just one game. I hope he’s fired too. I can’t stand people who have the my way or highway attitude.KICK ROCKS BAREFOOT.
December 18th, 2009 at 12:02 pm
eyes says:
Darko bud I wish you well. What he means about the money is he is one of the few that actually loves the game & playing it. Too many play for just the check. Well that’s what you should do in this business not SPORT. Everyone has an agenda now a days. Playing for a contract etc etc. What really happened to the love of the game? Was it really the money that changed it for the worse. SIKEEEEEEEEEEE. It played a part but I’m pretty sure we all know what the problem is. When will there be a total overhaul of the system. From new refs,coaches,scouts,etc. How did Stern warrant the commisih position? Did he really deserve it & has he been good for our league not his. Ball heads should understand what I mean. It’s really not his league. If the players take a pay cut he should CONSULT FOR 50CENTS A YR. I’m pretty sure he has more money than a little. What does he do again????
December 22nd, 2009 at 9:50 pm
Re-Up gang says:
If he could really ball, some NBA team would have given him a shot.
He cannot cut it here, with the big boys, real men who play at the elite level.
He is basically saying in that interview that he does not want to play in a system, he wants to be the star somewhere and have the offense run thru him. No NBA team is gonna do that Dorko, because you CANNOT PLAY. Given a shot, he may be a decent bench player, but he will NEVER be a starter in teh NBA nor the focal point of any offense because he DOES NOT DESERVE TO BE! He simply isnt good enough
Have fun playing scrubs Dorko, just know you are not on the level of NBA players.
December 30th, 2009 at 5:22 am
mountain high says:
He went to the wrong team at the wrong time ,Detroit was stuffed with veteran players , who would never ever let some 17year old child even smell the ball . On top of that they had Pat Riley as a coach ,who has never been known as a player developer , so how was he supposed to become top gun in the NBA when nobody gave him a chance ?
However I am very suprised that they kept him around the league for so long , he should have been gone back to Europe or D-league right after Detroit , but he is still young and Iam sure he will do well in European leagues .