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Vlade Divac finally reveals why he passed on Luka Doncic and drafted Marvin Bagley III
TL;DR
Vlade Divac explained his decision to draft Marvin Bagley III over Luka Doncic in 2018, citing concerns about fit with De'Aaron Fox. He acknowledged that passing on Doncic was a mistake, recognizing his immense talent.
Key points
- Vlade Divac was the Sacramento Kings general manager in 2018.
- Divac chose Marvin Bagley III over Luka Doncic.
- Divac expressed regret over his decision.
- He believed Doncic would require trading De'Aaron Fox.
- Doncic is now a six-time All-Star.
Sacramento KingsLuka DoncicMarvin Bagley IIIDe'Aaron Fox
Vlade Divac finally reveals why he passed on Luka Doncic and drafted Marvin Bagley III originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Former Sacramento Kings general manager Vlade Divac provided a blunt answer on his decision to draft Marvin Bagley III over Luka Doncic in 2018.
On Byron Scott's podcast, 'Fast Break', Divac explained why he didn't decide to draft the now six-time All-Star.
âI actually went to Madrid to talk to Luka a year before the draft," Divac said. "So he was definitely top on the list. But, obviously, it looks like I made a mistake. Luka is an unbelievable talent, definitely, with Nikola [Jokic] one of the top players in the league,â Divac said [h/t HoopsHype. âMy thinking was â because all of my assistants told me that he can play small forward, and I said no, Luka is a point guard, Luka is a coach on the floor. And I felt that if I get Luka, I have to trade [DeâAaron] Fox. And I already got a relationship with Fox, and I see he can do it. A small market team, heâs a perfect fit for him. Luka is a big market player.â
Passing on Luka Doncic proves costly
The decision to draft Bagley over Doncic was a mistake from the start. The Slovenian native was hot right out of the gate and won Rookie of the Year. As for Bagley, there were a ton of things that went wrong, including injuries, poor defensive performance, and very limited skill development.
When compared to a player like Doncic, the comparison can feel unfairâbut itâs also understandable given the fact that Bagley was drafted over him.
Bagley is on his fourth team in eight years, while Doncic is on a Hall of Fame trajectory.
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Q&A
Why did Vlade Divac choose Marvin Bagley III over Luka Doncic?
Vlade Divac chose Marvin Bagley III because he believed Luka Doncic would require trading De'Aaron Fox, with whom he had a good relationship.
What did Vlade Divac say about Luka Doncic's playing style?
Divac stated that he viewed Luka Doncic as a point guard and a coach on the floor, which influenced his decision against drafting him.
What are the consequences of Divac's decision to pass on Doncic?
Divac admitted that passing on Doncic was a mistake, as Doncic has become one of the top players in the league, while Bagley has not reached the same level of success.
