SRB - Milicic out to prove himself

BELGRADE (FIBA World Championship) - If any player has a point to prove at the FIBA World Championship in Japan next month, it's Darko Milicic.

The seven-footer was selected second overall by Detroit as a teenager in the talent-filled 2003 NBA draft, but has yet to light up the league.

In truth, he has yet to even flicker.

Milicic says he and his team-mates are at ease, though, despite the nation's hopes of a third successive world title.

"We are working really hard, but we are enjoying it, too," Milicic said.

"There's no pressure at all. Our atmosphere is really great."

Milicic endured a nightmare in Detroit, rarely playing and becoming the butt of jokes.

The word most associated with him was bust.

He was traded last season to Orlando and immediately saw his minutes go up.

Milicic averaged 7.6 points, 4.1 rebounds, 2.1 blocks and 1.1 assists in 20 minutes per game with the Magic.

"Those 30 games in the Magic squad helped me to re-gain my self-confidence," he said.

"But the NBA is another story. Now I'm back in the national team, and my priority is to raise the level of my own performances even more.

"After hard physical work, we finally reached phase of preparation where we will play games.

"In Italy, and other places where we'll look for our form for the FIBA World Championship.

"The results won't be important. We have to pull ourselves together, to try to implement all of Sakota's ideas. If we do so, I think we can be quite good in Japan."

Milicic is the center of attention - literally.

Nenad Krstic, the New Jersey Nets starting center, decided not to play this year for his country.

Milicic is actually the only NBA player in the team because Sasha Pavlovic of Cleveland also elected to pass on the event, and the federation elected not to select players like Vladimir Radmanovic, Marko Jaric and Zeljko Rebraca.

"All of us are aware that performances in Japan will depend just on our approach," he said.

"And, we are ready to play at highest possible level."

There should be no easy games at a FIBA World Championship, even one in which the field has been expanded for the first time from 16 to 24 teams.

Milicic & Co are in Group A with Olympic champions Argentina, the national team they beat in the final at the 2002 World Championship.

France, the EuroBasket bronze medal winners and the team that knocked Serbia & Montenegro out of last year's tournament in the elimination round, are also in the group, along with a dangerous Venezuela team, Lebanon and Nigeria.

"We are not in strong preliminary group," Milicic insisted. "The Argentinians are the only one who are really dangerous. Other opponents, France, Nigeria, Lebanon, Venezuela, we must defeat.

"If we can't reach the second phase from such group, all of us should stop playing basketball."

As for being slotted in at center, Milicic said: "My best position is when I'm in the role of power forward, but because of some players that aren't here with us, and because of Kosta Perovic's injury, it is possible I'll play at center.

"It doesn't bother me. My task is to give my best for our team. Whatever coach Sakota prepares for me, I'll give the maximum of my capabilities to bring joy for our nation."

Serbia & Montenegro have travelled to Bormio in Italy to take on Turkey and the Italians in warm-up games.

From Darko Nikolic
PA Sport