AUBURN HILLS — Former Piston and No. 2 overall pick Darko Milicic returned to The Palace Tuesday for what could be the first of his final two visits.

Milicic has publicly stated he plans to play in Europe next season and didn’t hold back any of his feelings towards the Pistons organization during an interview before Tuesday’s game.

Milicic was asked about his memories of Detroit and said he had fond memories off the court, but all bad memories on the court.

“I don’t know why the took me with the second pick if you’re not going to play me,” Milicic said. “I never understood that, you know. I was happy being the second pick and all that kind of stuff, but I never knew what I got myself into. I never knew I was coming here not to play. Nobody was telling me anything. Coming from Europe, you know, what do I know? I just wanted to play basketball.

“I should be more aggressive I think,” Milicic continued. “I made a mistake because I was listening to them all the time — be ready, your chance is going to come, stuff like this — all that kind of (crap).

“I was listening to them,” Milicic added. “I might be better off making a move early, when I didn’t play the first year, asking for a trade right away. But I was waiting, waiting, waiting, my mistake. Who knows? Maybe things would be different right now, but who knows?”

Milicic played sparingly during his two-plus seasons in Detroit, averaging less than seven minutes in the few games he actually got into.

He was even given the nickname ‘The Human Victory Cigar’ because he would often only play in the final minutes of Pistons blowouts.

Milicic believes he could have contributed to the team and even said the Pistons misled him during his time with the team.

“They lie to everybody,” Milicic. “It’s the NBA. The NBA, all around the league, same (crap). Be ready. Your chance is going to come. All that kind of (crap). (Bleep) that. … I’ve got enough of that kind of stuff, so I decided I’m going to go play in Europe and enjoy a little bit play.

“I’ve go to be real, there is no team in the league that is going to give me the chance that I’m looking for,” Milicic continued. “My only chance is back in Europe. I’m going to do that. I want to be happy. I want to play. So for me, to go to Europe and have a good chance.

“The play is going to go through me,” Milicic added. “I’m going to have (the ball) more in my hands in the post where I’m going to create for others. That’s what I do, pass to others, create for myself. That’s how I’m going to get my confidence back and that’s how I’m going to get my love for the game back, because without that, I can’t play, because the kind of player I am, I’m all-in or I’m all-out. I play with my heart.

“I know I do some stupid stuff, but that’s what I do play with my heart, all-in. If I see things are not working well and I see people lying to me and stuff like that, I’m all out. That’s it.”

Milicic has appeared in just eight games for the Knicks this season and has not played since Nov. 13. When asked what his goals where for the rest of this season, Milicic simply said “Nothing.”

“Nothing, because I got myself really ready, like, I was working in the summertime to get in shape, working really hard for this season and very mentally ready and then just play a little bit, little bit, little bit and then not playing at all, so I’m disappointed in the league,” Milicic said. “I really cleared my mind. I’m not ready right now to play for any other team, because I just want to finish this chapter in my life — the NBA chapter in my life — and go back and get 100 percent ready for next season and just go on a team that’s going to let me do my stuff and give me a chance.

“I’m not looking for big money,” Milicic continued. “I’m not looking for a team, for a city. It doesn’t matter. I’m just looking for a team that’s going to sit down and talk — I’m going to promise you I’ll give you 100 percent and you promise me you’re going to give me what I’m looking for. That’s it. Money’s not a problem. City, team, it doesn’t matter.”

Bynum sits out
Pistons guard Will Bynum missed his fourth game of the season Tuesday as he continues to recover from sprains in both of his ankles.

Bynum injured his right ankle back in mid-November and then sprained his left ankle against Philadelphia on Dec. 9. He sat out three games after the second sprain, but then played six games before deciding to shut it back down on Tuesday.

“He feels that he need to get this thing right,” Pistons coach John Kuester said. “He’s done some awfully good things for us this season so we got to make sure he gets healthy.”

Bynum started off the season hot, but has not been that same as of late. He has not had the same expressiveness he showed early in the season.

“He wants to be able to get that explosion back,” Kuester said. “More importantly for us, is his ability to change the complexion of the game defensively because he is able to get up and pressure people.”