<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Some "crazy thoughts" used to run through Darko Milicic's head when he was buried on the bench in Detroit. He said the one he wrestled with the most was leaving the team, unannounced, and boarding a plane home to Serbia. And maybe he'd just stay there and play for his country's team, bidding the NBA a not-so-fond farewell. Milicic, the Pistons' No. 1 pick in the 2003 draft, was so upset during his third season of bench-warming and hearing fans' catcalls that he felt like giving up the money and supposed fame. "I would just go to the airport and go home to Serbia. . . . .Not tell anybody nothing," Milicic said. "I had a lot of crazy thoughts in my mind at that time in my life. Some I don't want to say." Today, with the Orlando Magic, "It's 100 percent better," he said. Monday night, against the Celtics in Boston, Milicic passed a dubious milestone of sorts since arriving via a trade from Detroit last season. The power forward/center played in his 38th game with the Magic; the most he ever had played in a season with the Pistons was 37 during 2004-05. Barring injury, Milicic expects to play 82 games, easily surpassing the total of 55 he played between the Pistons and Magic last season. During a 30-game cameo, he excited Orlando fans, who no doubt dreamed of a Dwight-Darko Twin Towers. He created larger expectations with his play in the FIBA World Championship for Serbia during the summer and returned with more muscle, packing 278 pounds on his 7-foot frame. But he couldn't beat out veteran Tony Battie for the power forward job and has been inconsistent as a reserve. He entered the Boston game averaging 7.6 points and 5.1 rebounds in a little more than 19 minutes a game. Milicic had his best game this season Saturday night against the Minnesota Timberwolves, scoring a Magic career-high 15 points on 6-of-9 shooting with five rebounds and a block.</div> Read More
