Darko chose Celtics instead of Miami

Speaking to WEEI.com after the Celtics' practice at TD Garden Sunday, Darko Milicic explained that the Miami Heat expressed interest in signing the 27 year-old in the offseason, but Milic didn't deem such a move as a good fit.

"They were interested but they had guys they had before, big guys. It wasn't something I was looking for, especially signing the minimum contract," said Milic, who inked a one-year deal with the Celtics. "I was trying to find somebody who really needed me in some way. My agent told me they were interested, but they were interested just to have me on the bench. I would have been the last guy on the bench. If one of the big guys got some foul trouble I would go in and fight some of those guys. That would be my job. Traveling all the way from Serbia, bringing my kids, that's not me, that's not what I wanted to do. 

"In the last second Boston came out, which I was surprised about. They were really serious about me. I know I'm a minimum player right now, but that doesn't really matter. I'm going to do help these guys, whatever I need to do to bring a title back here. Whatever they tell me to do. If they tell me to fight that guy, I'll go fight that guy. Just help them in some way, whatever way it is. I know Miami is a good team and a champion, but Boston has a history. You can't say no to Boston."

Miami is entering the 2012-13 season with four players who are capable of playing center -- Chris Bosh, Udonis Haslem, Joel Anthony and Josh Harrelson.

If Milic did sign with Miami, it would give the Heat four of the top five players taken in the 2003 NBA Draft, with No. 1 pick LeBron James, No. 4 selection Bosh and Dwyane Wade, the No. 5 pick all playing for the Celtics' opponent in Tuesday night's regular season opener. Milic was taken at No. 2 by the Detroit Pistons.

"I don't look at it different at all," said Milicic when asked if he approaches games against the three Miami stars any differently. "That never existed for me. I'm coming from a different culture. Here, all the players talk about basketball and whatever, but that's not me, that's not who I am.

"I never became what people though I should become as the second pick, but for me those guys are great players. It's not about me, they are just great players and I look at them as human beings. For me they're just human beings and basketball players."

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