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Meet four players no longer with the Orlando Magic: Carlos Arroyo, Darko Milicic, Grant Hill and Hedo Turkoglu. This was taken during a loss to the Detroit Pistons on Feb. 21, 2007. (AP Photo/Gary Malerba)
When Darko Milicic played for the Orlando Magic, he showed signs of being a semi-useful NBA journeyman. He wasn’t a great player, sure, but the 7-footer could eat frontcourt minutes when Dwight Howard needed a break.
But when you are the No. 2 pick of the 2003 NBA Draft — the player drafted between LeBron James and Carmelo Anthony — that isn’t enough.
Greatest is expected. By everybody. Including yourself.
And since Darko hasn’t realized greatness in the NBA — he’s now buried with Nate Robinson at the end of Mike D’Antoni’s bench in New York — he has become a bitter dude.
Just read the comments Milicic made Tuesday night in Auburn Hills, Mich., reported by Chris Iott of mlive.com:
Milicic, the second overall pick in the 2003 NBA draft, said the Pistons lied to him. But he also said they are not the only ones.
“Yes, they did,” Milicic said. “They lie to everybody. It’s the NBA. The NBA, all around the league, same (garbage). ‘Your chance is going to come.’ All that kind of (garbage). (Forget) that.
“I’ve got enough of that kind of stuff, so I decided I’m going to Europe.”
Milicic is buried on the end of the Knicks bench and had appeared in just eight games this season heading into Tuesday’s game against Detroit. He averaged 2.0 points, 2.3 rebounds and 8.9 minutes in those eight games.
Did the Orlando Magic lie to Darko Milicic? He had his most productive NBA season in Orlando, averaging 8 points and 23.9 minutes during the 2005-06 campaign.
