With a bottle of water in one hand and some Gatorade and a special concoction in the other, Darko Milicic appeared ready for a nap.

"I feel bad, a little bit tired, it's different for me," the prized rookie said Tuesday after his first practice with the Pistons.

Then he broke into a smile.

"A lot of running," said Milicic, 18. "I have to get into good shape. I think in a couple of days I'll be fine. I have to learn something new every day. I have to learn. They've given me the chance; now I have to work."

Training camp opened Tuesday for rookies, free agents and less-experienced veterans at the Pistons' practice gym, and Milicic admitted he has a lot to learn. He realizes he's not in shape to battle the likes of Ben Wallace and Elden Campbell when the veterans report at the end of the week.

"Darko is just going through what Mehmet (Okur) went through last year," said Tayshaun Prince. "It's funny because the first couple of plays in practice, Mehmet was laughing because he could remember himself doing the same thing last year that Darko did.