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Vladimir Radmanovic

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"It's (the pain) going away now, so I did a first practice," said Radmanovic. "I'll see how it feels after practice today and, if it feels good, maybe I'll try tomorrow."

"I'll see how it feels after practice today and, if it feels good, maybe I'll try tomorrow." Jeff Reinking/NBAE/Getty

By tomorrow, Radmanovic means he could see his first 2005-06 game action as the Sonics continue preseason play against the Phoenix Suns (7:30 p.m., KJR 950 AM, )

"He went through an entire practice today, so we'll see how he feels after practice and how he feels tomorrow," said Sonics Coach Bob Weiss.

Radmanovic said even walking was painful since he first began having a problem with his left foot last Friday. Ice and anti-inflammatories, along with time, have helped make things better. Radmanovic got good news earlier this week when tests revealed the injury is merely a soft-tissue problem, not something more serious.

After practice, Radmanovic opened up to a handful of reporters in a wide-ranging interview that touched on his potential free agency after this year, his desire to start and his upcoming decision about whether to play for his Serbia & Montenegro National Team next summer, amongst other issues.

"I've always said I want to start," Radmanovic said. "I'm not going to lie and tell you I don't care about it. But if it's going to be like last season, there is not much I can change. All I have to do is prepare and get ready for every game and earn my minutes."

Radmanovic entered camp with a real shot at the starting job, with Weiss essentially putting him in a competition with incumbent power forward Reggie Evans, who was at the time unsigned. But Evans quickly made his way to camp while Radmanovic was injured, allowing Evans to take a lead in the competition.

"When you are injured, you're out of the picture," Weiss said before the Sonics played in Portland Wednesday. "Right now, Reggie is playing really well, and so we'll just see how it goes. We got a lot of time left."

"There is nothing personal between me and Reggie," said Radmanovic. "We are both trying to get the same spot, and that's natural and normal, but the bottom line is we have to win."

Much of Radmanovic's success last season, when he finished fifth in Sixth Man Award voting, can be traced to his willingness to accept and make the best of his role as a reserve. Radmanovic is taking the same attitude this season.

"I am going to work as hard as I can, try to earn as many minutes as I can because that's one of the most important things on a team," he said. "You can be a starter and play 15 minutes, but I want to be one of those guys who's on the floor when it's most important. Whether I'm in the starting lineup or the second unit, I really don't care."

On the subject of his national team, Radmanovic agreed with the outside perception that there is a split between players who have come over to the NBA and those who have remained in Europe.

"Is there a split?" he asked. "I'm afraid there is. It's sad."

Radmanovic noted he felt there is some jealousy over the salaries made by players who have come to the NBA. He also expressed some frustration at his role during the recent Eurobasket tournament.

"You can't just bring NBA players back here and sit them on the bench," Radmanovic said.

While the expectation in Serbia & Montenegro that players will play for the national team - "That's our duty," he said - helped improve participation in the past, Radmanovic now feels that attitude is "pushing guys away."

Sacramento Kings All-Star Peja Stojakovic, the most acclaimed Serbian & Montenegrin player in the NBA, did not participate in either Eurobasket or the 2004 Olympics, a decision which has brought him criticism in his home country. Still, Radmanovic may not play for the national team in next summer's World Basketball Championships, pointing out that he's never worried much about how his actions are perceived.