Divac Finally Reveals: Why I Didn't Draft Dončić

Pulse Sports Team 08:39 - 28 April 2026

In 2018, Vlade Divac made what many consider the biggest mistake of his career. As general manager of the Sacramento Kings, he drafted Marvin Bagley instead of Luka Dončić. Eight years later, he has explained his decision.

In 2018, Luka Dončić was drafted third overall by the Atlanta Hawks, only to be quickly traded to Dallas for Trae Young. Between those two picks, the Sacramento Kings drafted Marvin Bagley, who ultimately proved to be a bust. Eight years later, Divac has finally explained his decision.

"I actually went to Madrid to speak with Luka a year before the draft. So, he was definitely high on my list. But, obviously, today it looks like I made a mistake. Luka is an incredible talent, certainly one of the best players in the league alongside Nikola Jokić. My thinking was this… All my assistant coaches told me Luka could play small forward. But I told them: ‘No, Luka is a point guard. Luka is a coach on the court. Luka is the type of player who runs the offense.’ And I felt that if I brought Luka in, I would have to trade De'Aaron Fox."

He elaborated on why he ultimately made that choice.

"I had already built a relationship with Fox and I saw that he could succeed with us. For a small-market team, he was a perfect fit. Luka is a big-market player, and I felt that even if I brought him in, I might lose him later. That's why it was a tough decision. A really tough decision. If I could go back, I would probably draft him, but he's having a great career anyway."