Evaluating talent in the NBA may be one of the most difficult tasks in sports, choosing between elite players based on preset parameters is tricky enough without throwing personal feelings into the mix.
If these latest statements from Tim MacMahon are true, personal feelings may be the exact reason Sacramento Kings fans aren’t cheering for new sensation Luka Doncic as he takes the league by storm.
In the 2018 NBA Draft the Kings decided to go with Marvin Bagley III who left Duke University after his freshman year with the 2nd overall pick. Luka Doncic went the very next pick to the Atlanta Hawks who later dealt him to the Dallas Mavericks in exchange for a future 1st round pick and the draft rights to Trae Young.
Luka Doncic’s father Sasha Doncic played professional hoops as well in Slovenia and France, it’s believed that his relationship with general manager proved to be an obstacle in the way of Luka Doncic being selected by the Sacramento Kings.
Read the full quote from Tim MacMahon:
“My understanding is that [Divac] being so close to Luka and knowing his dad so well factored into their decision.” MacMahon told The Woj Pod. “Basically, he didn’t think a whole lot about Luka’s dad, and the whole like father like son….well…no, this is a different dude. You messed that one up Vlade.”
It will be interesting to see how this plays out, if Marvin Bagley III cant produce the same or similar results to what Dallas has enjoyed with Luka Doncic, we may look back on this obvious gaff as the nail in the coffin on Vlade Divac’s tenure as general manager of the Sacramento Kings.”
Flip through the pages below to see reactions from around Twitter after this revelation from Tim MacMahon on the Woj Pod.