“Vlade Divac Explains Passing on Luka Dončić: A Decision That Changed Kings’ Future”
In an interview with IndexHR, former Kings GM Vlade Divac finally shared his reasoning for passing on Luka Dončić in the 2018 NBA Draft. According to Divac, he believed Luka wouldn’t have fit well with De’Aaron Fox, who was already positioned to be the team’s franchise point guard.
Sasa Cobanov asked Divac about the widely discussed decision, inquiring six years later why he didn’t select Dončić. Divac explained that Fox, drafted the previous year, was viewed as a future franchise player. He acknowledged that hindsight suggests he might have been wrong, but he still has faith in Fox’s potential to have a successful career.
When asked if he considered pairing Fox and Dončić, similar to how Luka now plays alongside Kyrie Irving, Divac responded that both are ball-dominant point guards. He noted that choosing Luka would have likely required trading Fox. Despite being a fan of Dončić’s game, Divac stood by his decision, though he admitted time would reveal whether it was the right call.
Divac is celebrated for his role in the Kings’ success during the early 2000s, including the team’s 61-win season in 2002, where they reached the Western Conference Finals before losing to the Lakers. After retiring in 2005 as a Laker, Divac returned to the Kings in 2013, eventually becoming GM in 2015. He was responsible for the pivotal decision in the 2018 Draft.
With the second pick that year and Deandre Ayton expected to go first, the Kings had the opportunity to draft Luka Dončić, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Trae Young, or Jaren Jackson Jr., all of whom became All-Stars. Instead, Divac opted for Marvin Bagley III, a Duke standout seen as a versatile big man. Bagley had a promising start, averaging 13.5 points, 7.4 rebounds, and 0.7 blocks on 49.4% shooting, but his career has since been inconsistent, and he was eventually traded.
Meanwhile, Dončić has blossomed into a superstar with the Mavericks, transforming the franchise into a Western Conference powerhouse. Though Fox has also become a key player for the Kings, many believe Divac’s decision to pass on Luka was a mistake. Fox and Luka, despite being ball-handlers, may have been able to complement each other, as Luka has found success with other co-stars like Jalen Brunson and Kyrie Irving.
At 25, Dončić could have been the cornerstone to elevate the Kings, possibly leading them to a Finals appearance as he did with the Mavericks. However, the Kings will never know what could have been and must now rely on their current roster, hoping to prove critics wrong.