ducks
09-30-2003, 06:35 PM
AUBURN HILLS, Mich. (AP) -- Detroit Pistons rookie Darko Milicic learned an important lesson after his first NBA practice.
``I've got to get in better shape,'' he said Tuesday. ``We don't run this much at home.''
Milicic, the No. 2 overall pick in the draft, was at the Palace for the first day of workouts for younger players. Full training camp starts Friday.
The 18-year-old native of Serbia and Montenegro is not expected to have an immediate impact this season.
``You have to remember that the kid is 14 years old,'' joked coach Larry Brown. ``He has tremendous skills, but he needs to get in better shape. He has a lot to learn. If he were an American, he'd probably be getting ready for his senior year of high school.''
In some ways, though, Brown feels the 7-foot Milicic is further ahead in his game than American kids his age.
``In Europe, they spend a lot more time on fundamentals, and they don't lock kids into one position until they are 17 or 18,'' he said. ``So Darko is sounder than our kids his age, and he has learned a lot of skills that only guards pick up over here. That will help him a lot.''
Milicic practiced with a group of young players who are not expected to make the team. The only veterans taking part were last year's rookies -- Mehmet Okur and Tayshaun Prince.
``It's nice to have a year under my belt and not have to be the one that doesn't know what is going on,'' Prince said. ``It is even harder for Darko, because of the language issue. He's going through the same things that Memo went through last season.''
Okur, a native of Turkey, is hoping his experience as an Eastern European rookie will allow him to help Milicic make the adjustment to the NBA.
``I'm going to try to push him every day in practice and help him get better,'' he said. ``And he knows that I'll do whatever I can to make things easier off the court. All he has to do is ask.''
Milicic does not expect his career to take off instantly. He refused to put any expectations on his rookie season.
``I just need to work very hard and see what happens,'' he said. ``I know that I will have to earn any playing time that I get.''link (http://ttp://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news?slug=ap-pistons-milicic&prov=ap&type=lgns)
``I've got to get in better shape,'' he said Tuesday. ``We don't run this much at home.''
Milicic, the No. 2 overall pick in the draft, was at the Palace for the first day of workouts for younger players. Full training camp starts Friday.
The 18-year-old native of Serbia and Montenegro is not expected to have an immediate impact this season.
``You have to remember that the kid is 14 years old,'' joked coach Larry Brown. ``He has tremendous skills, but he needs to get in better shape. He has a lot to learn. If he were an American, he'd probably be getting ready for his senior year of high school.''
In some ways, though, Brown feels the 7-foot Milicic is further ahead in his game than American kids his age.
``In Europe, they spend a lot more time on fundamentals, and they don't lock kids into one position until they are 17 or 18,'' he said. ``So Darko is sounder than our kids his age, and he has learned a lot of skills that only guards pick up over here. That will help him a lot.''
Milicic practiced with a group of young players who are not expected to make the team. The only veterans taking part were last year's rookies -- Mehmet Okur and Tayshaun Prince.
``It's nice to have a year under my belt and not have to be the one that doesn't know what is going on,'' Prince said. ``It is even harder for Darko, because of the language issue. He's going through the same things that Memo went through last season.''
Okur, a native of Turkey, is hoping his experience as an Eastern European rookie will allow him to help Milicic make the adjustment to the NBA.
``I'm going to try to push him every day in practice and help him get better,'' he said. ``And he knows that I'll do whatever I can to make things easier off the court. All he has to do is ask.''
Milicic does not expect his career to take off instantly. He refused to put any expectations on his rookie season.
``I just need to work very hard and see what happens,'' he said. ``I know that I will have to earn any playing time that I get.''link (http://ttp://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news?slug=ap-pistons-milicic&prov=ap&type=lgns)