Lebron James and Carmelo Anthony can pick up newspapers in the United States and find themselves described as the new King and Prince of the NBA. Spare a thought, though, for Darko Milicic, the royal intruder.

　　Less than six months ago, Milicic's 2.13-meter frame loomed large over his teenage peers at the 2003 draft. While James and Anthony were picked first and third, the Serbian split them both as the second overall draft selection and the highest ever European entrant.

　　The beaming smile he wore that night in New York and the sense of anticipation he exuded have since disappeared.

　　For while James and Anthony are fast building their kingdoms in Cleveland and Denver respectively, Milicic is a mere foot servant at the Detroit Pistons.

　　"I know LeBron and Carmelo and they are great guys," Milicic said. "I'm happy for them but it's very hard for me at the moment."

　　Milicic admits he feels frustrated at his first experience of life in the NBA but the words scarcely do justice to his unenviable position.

　　James has been averaging 40.5 minutes per game and 17.4 points per game with the Cavaliers. In the Denver Nuggets' victory over Phoenix on Tuesday, Anthony had a typical 17 points. Both players are heralded as the saviors of their franchises.

　　The Pistons, beaten Eastern conference finalists last season, do not need a savior. Under coach Larry Brown, Milicic earned just 17 minutes of action in seven games and was still waiting to sink his first basket.

　　"I am looking forward to that moment," he said. "I am working hard, trying really hard to make an impact here.

　　"I am listening to all the advice I get ... but sometimes I have five different coaches telling me what to do so it's not easy. All I have (in my life) is practice, practice and then the games. When I go home to my house I am alone, I have nothing to do.

　　"I miss my friends and family and everything about my home country. I like America but it's very different. My family is visiting for Christmas, so I'm looking forward to that."

　　Still in the process of securing his driving license, he has recently been driven to work by Ben Wallace, the very Pistons forward whose place in the starting five he covets. He has had to listen to Anthony talk of how he felt snubbed when Detroit allegedly went back on their original word to take him at number two in the draft.

　　Having himself been showered with praise as a great all-rounder at the draft, Milicic is also now being told by all and sundry that he is "raw." Worse still, some of the barbed comments have come from his own coach.

　　Brown has been quoted as saying that Milicic looks like a "deer in headlights," and that with all the skeptical press, it is a good job Milicic cannot read English.

　　Brown also said recently: "Right now (Darko) thinks he's Toni Kukoc but I want him to play like Bill Russell. But I don't think he knows who Bill Russell is."

　　As if that was not enough, Detroit's talk radio stations have been home to rumors that Milicic has fallen out with the Pistons' staff.

　　Milicic maintains his dream of winning championships is still intact and that he has no regrets.

　　"I have to be patient," Milicic says, again and again.

　　Shortly, with his driving license approved, he will take delivery of a new BMW car. It will, he says excitedly, give him welcome independence, although what he really craves is to come of age on court.