Vlade Divac explains why Kings didn’t draft Luka Doncic, admits he made mistake
Vlade Divac can finally admit it.
He should have drafted Luka Doncic.
Divac is remembered as one of the most beloved players in franchise history after helping the Sacramento Kings reach their greatest heights under former coach Rick Adelman, but he made a colossal mistake while serving as the team’s general manager from 2015-20.
Divac chose Marvin Bagley III over Luka Doncic with the No. 2 pick in the 2018 NBA draft. Divac thought Bagley would be a better fit for the Kings a year after Sacramento selected De’Aaron Fox with the fifth pick in the 2017 draft, but that has proven to be a poor decision.
Doncic is a two-time NBA scoring champion, a five-time All-NBA First Team selection, a six-time All-Star and a perennial MVP candidate. He has averaged 29.2 points, 8.5 rebounds and 8.2 assists over eight seasons with the Dallas Mavericks and Los Angeles Lakers.
Bagley has averaged 11.8 points and 6.5 rebounds over eight seasons with the Kings, Detroit Pistons, Washington Wizards, Memphis Grizzlies and Dallas Mavericks.
Divac was asked about his decision to draft Bagley instead of Doncic on Monday’s episode of “Byron Scott’s Fast Break” podcast.
“Actually, I went to Madrid to talk to Luka a year before the draft, so he was definitely top on the list, but obviously it looks like I made mistake,” Divac said. “Luka is an unbelievable talent and definitely ... one of the top players in the league. My thinking was, because all my assistants told me he can play small forward, and I said no, Luka is a point guard. Luka is a coach on the floor.
“I felt like, if I get Luka, I have to trade Fox, and I already got relationship with Fox and I see he can do it. Small-market team, it’s a perfect fit for him. Luka is a big-market player, and I felt like if I get Luka, down the road, I may lose him, so it’s tough decision. It’s really tough decision. If I go back, probably I would draft him, but now he’s having a great career.”
This story was originally published April 27, 2026 at 6:45 PM.
