Darko Milicic No Longer Allowed On Pistons’ Property

DETROIT--Pistons coach Larry Brown announced today that former top draft pick Darko Milicic will no longer be allowed on the team’s property. The 2nd year player was ejected from the team’s practice facility on Sunday and was also banned from The Palace, the team bus, the team jet, and any other property owned by the Detroit Pistons organization.

Brown said the move was designed to help Milicic gain some valuable experience off the court.

“This is going to be great for Darko because it will help him grow, not as a basketball player, but as a person,” Brown said. “Sure he can learn all about basketball if he comes to practice and watches the games, but what will he learn about leading a normal life? Nothing. That’s why he’s forbidden from venturing onto Pistons’ property. If he does, he’ll be set upon by a pack of ravenous pit bulls.”

While away from the team Milicic will be able to do whatever he wants, Brown said, giving him the freedom to find a hobby other than basketball.

“I’m not going to be supervising the kid,” said Brown. “He’ll be on his own. I’m sure he’ll want to pursue other interests that will take his mind off basketball. For instance, he could take up stamp collecting, or possibly basket weaving. Maybe he could take a course in bird watching and spend his days walking through the park observing our feathered friends. Or maybe he could go on an adventure--a one-way adventure, back to Serbia. I hear it's lovely this time of year. ”

Milicic was averaging only six minutes per game this season. With Brown’s reluctance to use younger players, the 19-year-old was beginning to wonder if his chance was ever going to come. Now that question has been answered.

“I guess I won’t be playing for the Pistons anytime soon,” Milicic said from his apartment in suburban Detroit . “I understand coach Brown does not want to play me because I’m too young. It is unfortunate that I am not even allowed to travel with the team or attend practices. I guess this is what you call ‘tough love.’ Hopefully I will learn a valuable lesson from this that will make me a better player, like how worthless I am and how I don’t belong on a basketball court.”

The youngster was informed of the new policy when he tried to enter practice on Sunday. He received no prior warning and was turned away at the door by security guards. “I was coming into the building for practice and the security guard stopped me,” he said. “I told him who I was, and he said ‘I’m sorry, you’re no longer welcome here, Darko.’ Then I said ‘But I play for the team, please, let me in,’ and he sprayed me with pepper spray. Then I fell to the ground and he began kicking and punching me. That’s the last thing I remember.” Milicic’s teammates have been informed of his banishment and advised not to speak to him or try to help him in any way. Brown believes it best for Milicic to be shunned completely, lest he get any ideas about trying to return to the team. So far, the players have obliged.

“I haven’t said a word to the kid since Sunday,” said guard Chauncey Billups. “He did call me yesterday but I didn’t pick up. Poor little guy left a bunch of messages, too. But I can understand where coach Brown is coming from. Sometimes a kid like Darko needs to learn things the hard way. I remember when I was a rookie, coach [Phil] Jackson made me live in a dumpster for six weeks and eat nothing but rat shit and garbage. It didn’t matter that I wasn’t even on his team. When that guy says something, you listen.”

One person who isn’t happy with Milicic’s exile is GM Joe Dumars. Dumars selected Milicic with the third pick in the 2003 draft and expected the highly touted Serbian to pay big dividends. Now he’s not even allowed in the building.

“As a GM, you never want to tell your coaches how to handle the team,” said Dumars. “But I have to say I’m disappointed that Darko has been banned from the premises. I can’t help but think there is another way to help him become a better player. I come from the old school, where you nurture young talent with patience and positive reinforcement, and give them hands-on experience in actual game situations. A couple of years down the road, if they still can’t play, you do the humane thing and accuse them of having a drug problem and try to void their contract. At least give them their dignity.”