Dumars also knows his recent history. His chief international scout, Tony Ronzone, was in Dallas as a first-hand witness to the example I've used frequently to put Darko's trying rookie season in context. Dirk Nowitzki, in some ways, had a worse first year than Milicic, even though Nowitzki's numbers were far better. The Pistons made it clear from the outset that, with a veteran roster, they weren't expecting any significant contribution from Darko this season. Nowitzki? Don Nelson touted him as a Rookie of the Year favorite, only to see the German held to two points in his first pro game ... against countryman Detlef Schrempf, no less. For the rest of the season, Nowitzki struggled to cope with the NBA's physicality and the Mavericks were constantly reminded that Boston's Paul Pierce looked so much more NBA-ready.
Worse yet for Nowitzki: He didn't immediately have the acceptance in the locker room that Milicic has. Pistons veterans, Wallace and Chauncey Billups especially, openly root for the kid, as seen Wednesday night when Milicic was given a surprising six-minute stint to start the second quarter against Divac's Sacramento Kings. Nowitzki faced resentment from some of his first-year Mavericks teammates, and it wasn't until his breakout second season that the Pierce regrets were hushed.
Dumars feels, as the Mavericks feel -- and as I also believe -- that the tie goes to the 7-footer. There is no question that 'Melo has been even better coming out of Syracuse than his biggest fans expected, igniting a turnaround in Denver that could stand as one of the most impressive single-season transformations in league history. After a 17-win season, the Nuggets are on pace to win 46 games.
Darko Milicic got a start against the Kings, taking the floor to begin the second quarter.
But ...
That doesn't and shouldn't change the Pistons' perspective. If Darko eventually develops as the personnel experts projected, he'll give Detroit a potentially fearsome front line, even by Western Conference standards. Wallace. Mehmet Okur. Milicic.
Can't name too many trios that would be able to match them, with Tayshaun Prince as a more than passable choice to play Anthony's position.
And Darko, mind you, is progressing. He has bulked up noticeably, pushing his weight into the 260s. He is competing better in practice. He has moved past the embarrassment of that missed dunk in Cleveland in a national TV game against LeBron