Former Sacramento Kings GM Vlade Divac recently sat for a wide-ranging interview with Croatian media outlet Index. The conversation touched on Divac's international career, the recent gathering to honor Drazen Petrovic, and Divac's NBA playing career, before finishing with questions about his tenure leading the Sacramento Kings front office.
When asked about the decision to pass on drafting Luka Doncic, Divac said that it was strictly basketball related.
"I had De'Aaron Fox at that position, whom I drafted a year earlier. At that moment, I thought that Fox was a player who could become a franchise player in the future," Divac said. "Time will tell if I was wrong. As things stand now, it looks like I am, but I have faith in Fox that he will have a better career."
Divac clarified that not drafting Doncic had nothing to do with his relationship with Doncic's father Sasa. The former Kings GM said he has love and appreciation for the elder Doncic. Divac said he simply didn't think Doncic and Fox could play together, unlike how Doncic and Kyrie Irving fit together.
"Irving is a classic basketball player, just like Luka. Fox isn't, he's a player who needs the ball, just like Luka needs it," Divac said. "I could have taken Luka, but then I would have to trade Fox."
RIP mags
