Image Source: NBA Sports
[Saba Sports News] According to the Dallas Mavericks’ standout player himself, Luka Doncic, the Sacramento Kings missed out on a golden opportunity in 2018. Infamously, the Kings opted for Marvin Bagley III over Doncic during the 2018 NBA Draft, a decision made by Kings executive Vlade Divac.
Doncic, a fellow Balkan native, subtly reminded Divac of this draft misstep during the Mavericks’ recent 107-103 victory over the Kings at the Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, California. With just four seconds remaining in the game, Doncic sealed the win by sinking a free throw, prompting him to wave goodbye to Divac as he walked towards the Mavericks’ bench.
Doncic was seen muttering “he should have drafted me” repeatedly once he reached the sideline. Doncic’s performance in the game was stellar, tallying 26 points, 9 rebounds, and 12 assists on 6/14 shooting.
Meanwhile, despite being in MVP conversations for years, Bagley has struggled to make a significant impact and was traded from the Detroit Pistons to the Washington Wizards earlier this season.
While the Kings did manage to make the playoffs last season for the first time in 17 years and have a chance to repeat the feat this year, it’s hard not to speculate that they might have reached success sooner had they chosen Doncic over Bagley.