In the 2018 NBA Draft, the Sacramento Kings held the No.2 overall pick, with Duke’s Marvin Bagley III and Slovenian sensation Luka Doncic being the top options. At the time, Kings general manager Vlade Divac felt confident in his pick, selecting Bagley over Doncic.
“Marvin (Bagley) is for us a better fit. A better player. A great talent. It was an easy choice for us,” Divac said when asked what was involved in the decision to not draft Doncic and go with Bagley.
Fast forward to today, everyone knows how Divac’s decision turned out to be a blunder. Doncic has become a franchise-altering talent and already one of the best players in the NBA. Meanwhile, Bagley has bounced around the league, playing for three different teams.
Divac continues to face criticism for passing on Doncic. This time, the heat came from Doncic himself. After beating the Kings on Friday, the Dallas Mavericks superstar playfully jabbed at the former Kings GM, who was watching courtside.
“He shoulda’ drafted me,” Doncic signaled towards Divac.
Luka Doncic as he puts away the Kings tonight in Sacramento with his final free throw, then as the final horn sounds, waves goodbye to former Kings GM Vlade Divac seated courtside and says “he shoulda’ drafted me.” pic.twitter.com/6j26cLprxA
— Sean Cunningham (@SeanCunningham) March 30, 2024
