In the 2018 NBA Draft, the Denver Nuggets came tantalizingly close to creating one of the greatest duos in NBA history by pairing Nikola Jokic with Luka Doncic. The Nuggets, who had already drafted Jokic in 2014, saw an opportunity to elevate their team by adding Doncic to their roster.
According to reports, the Nuggets attempted to trade up to the No. 2 pick to select Doncic, offering Gary Harris and two first-round picks to the Sacramento Kings. The Kings, however, decided to keep the pick and selected Marvin Bagley III, while the Atlanta Hawks traded the No. 3 pick to the Dallas Mavericks, who happily took Doncic.
The Nuggets’ interest in Doncic was driven by their belief that he would perfectly complement Jokic’s playmaking abilities. The thought of having two of the most creative and versatile offensive players on the same team excited the Nuggets’ front office and fans alike.
Per Mike Singer on ‘The Hoop Collective Podcast:
“The Nuggets knew that Vlade Divac was not particularly high on Luka Doncic. And they had designs on pairing Nikola Jokic with Luka Doncic. On draft night in 2018, they tried. There was a call placed. There was a proposal and the Nuggets attempted to get the No. 2 pick for Gary Harris and two first-round picks was what I was told.
…You can roll your eyes at that price tag, but look in retrospect. The Kings ended up taking Marvin Bagley with the No. 2 pick. I’m not saying this trade was imminent. All I’m saying is this trade was discussed and considered because the Nuggets knew Vlade Divac was not particularly high on Luka Doncic and they tried to exploit it.
The wrinkle in this is if the Nuggets had ever been willing to part with Jamal Murray, we have a hell of a what-if in the annals of NBA history, but that did not happen.
I was not in the room. I was not in the front office at the time. All I know is it was considered, explored, vetted, and I have somebody saying anonymously ‘For 30 seconds, we thought we had Luka.’ Which is a gargantuan statement.”
While the trade never materialized, the Nuggets did select Michael Porter Jr. with the 14th overall pick, who has since become a key contributor to the team. The “what-if” scenario of a Jokic-Doncic pairing continues to intrigue basketball enthusiasts, as both players have gone on to achieve remarkable success in their respective careers, are friends, and have since been rumored of wanting to team up in the future.
Nikola Jokic has won three MVP awards and led the Nuggets to their first NBA championship in 2023. Luka Doncic, on the other hand, has become a perennial MVP contender and led the Mavericks to the NBA Finals. The potential synergy between the two playmakers is a tantalizing thought, leaving fans to wonder what could have been.
