Darko Milicic began the year as the Timberwolves’ starting center but has since fallen out of favor and watched Nikola Pekovic replace him. Now the Timberwolves are temporarily keeping Pekovic, who’s been hampered by injuries to both ankles, out of action for a while. And even though Darko is the next center listed on Minnesota’s depth chart, don’t expect coach Rick Adelman to bump him up to the first string. Adelman put the failed former second-overall pick on blast.
“He hasn’t done anything to really give you a lot of faith that he’s going to go out and do the job,” Adelman told the Star-Tribune. “He’s gotten himself out of shape. He hasn’t been as driven as you’d like so when a situation like this happens, it’s time for someone to have their opportunity and get back in there.”
Darko started last Sunday against the Kings but played only six minutes. He’s seen action in just 10 games since the end of January, a disappointing follow-up to a career year (by Darko’s standards — 8.8 points, 5.2 rebounds) for the T-Wolves last season. Mark it down as just another sad stage in Darko’s disastrous career.
Photo credit: Brace Hemmelgarn, US Presswire
