Lakers Legend Reveals Why He Passed Up on Luka Doncic in 2018 NBA Draft

Luka Doncic was the No. 3 pick in the 2018 NBA Draft. He was originally picked by the Atlanta Hawks but was traded on the same night to the Dallas Mavericks. 

Current Lakers big Deandre Ayton went first overall to the Phoenix Suns, before the Sacramento Kings picked Marvin Bagley III in the No. 2 selection, a decision that still raises eyebrows to this day. 

Former Kings general manager and Lakers legend Vlade Divac looked back on that decision. According to him, Sacramento had De’Aaron Fox back then, making the decision to get Doncic, a well-known orchestrator in Europe, hard. 

“All of my assistants told me that he can play small forward, and I said no, no, Luka is a point guard. Luka is a coach on the floor,” Divac said in Byron Scott’s Fast Break podcast. “And I felt that if I get Luka, I would have to trade De’Aaron Fox, and I already got a relationship with Fox, and I see he’s a perfect fit for us, a small market team, and Luka was a big market player.”

Doncic played seven seasons with the Mavericks before being traded in a shocking deal to the LA Lakers last year. 

Doncic has since been seen as the franchise’s next face after the retirement of the 41-year-old LeBron James. However, Doncic remains out in the 2026 NBA playoffs due to a hamstring injury. 

Divac, who played with the Lakers from 1989 to 1996, admitted that not picking Luka in the draft was a massive mistake on his end. 

“I actually went to Madrid to talk to Luka, a year before the draft,” he said. “So, he definitely top on the list. But, obviously, it looks like I made a mistake. Luka is an unbelievable uh talent, one of the top players in the league.”

Doncic, who is still just 27 years old, is expected to carry the Lakers, the same franchise Divac played for, for the foreseeable future. 

Divac Started His Post-NBA Career As Lakers Scout

GettyVlade Divac played his first seven years in the NBA with the Lakers.

Vlade Divac played his final NBA year with the Lakers in the 2004-2005 season. Shortly after, he was hired by the franchise to be a European scout. 

He held the position for a year before stepping down in 2006. He went on to have a solid career in the front office of different teams in Europe and the NBA. 

Divac ended his general manager career in 2020, when he exited his position with the Kings. The most notable moment in his GM career was drafting De’Aaron Fox in the 2017 NBA draft. 

Doncic Has Yet to Prove Himself With the Lakers in the Playoffs

GettyLuka Doncic look on from the bench as he still recovers from his injury.

Luka Doncic has yet to have a marquee playoff run with the Lakers. Last year, the team lost to the Minnesota Timberwolves in the first round, only three months into being integrated with the team after his trade. 

This year, Doncic has yet to suit up for the Lakers in the playoffs after hurting his hamstring towards the end of the regular season. 

He still has a chance this season as the Lakers lead 3-1 against the Houston Rockets in Round 1 after numerous heroics from the 41-year-old LeBron James. 

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