Vlade Divac thinks Nikola Jokic is the most effective European participant ever: 'The numbers say so'

It’s well-known that because the GM of Sacramento, you handed on Doncic within the draft. Trying again after six years, are you able to clarify what the reasoning was for not selecting him? VLADE DIVAC: At that place, I already had De’Aaron Fox, whom I had drafted a yr earlier. On the time, I believed Fox was a participant who might grow to be a franchise star within the coming years. Time will inform if I used to be flawed. As issues stand now, it appears I used to be, however I nonetheless think about Fox having an awesome profession. -via Index / September 21, 2024

Did you not suppose Fox and Doncic might play collectively, like Doncic and Kyrie Irving do immediately? VLADE DIVAC: No. Irving is a basic scorer, identical to Luka. Fox isn’t; he’s a playmaker who wants the ball, identical to Luka. I might’ve taken Luka, however then I’d have needed to commerce Fox. Apparently, Phoenix additionally handed on Luka, and on the time, their coach was Igor Kokoškov, who had coached Luka in Slovenia. Atlanta drafted Luka, however they traded him away. It was Dallas that ultimately took him. I really like watching Luka; I actually take pleasure in his model of basketball. I had my very own causes for making that call. Possibly I made a mistake, however time will inform. -via Index / September 21, 2024

There have been rumors that you simply didn’t draft Luka since you weren’t on the most effective phrases together with his father, Saša. Is that true? VLADE DIVAC: Under no circumstances. That’s simply nonsense from the media. I do know Saša very nicely, I really like and respect him. He even performed in Kraljevo when Luka was only a child. It had nothing to do with that. I comply with Luka carefully and see that he’s on the correct path. I repeat, he’ll simply want to observe his bodily situation. -via Index / September 21, 2024

Lastly, in your opinion, what’s the most effective European beginning 5 of all time? VLADE DIVAC: I’ll begin from the top, the middle. Let it’s Krešo Cosic at heart, Nikola Jokic at energy ahead, Toni Kukoc at small ahead, Dražen Petrovic at capturing guard, and Saša Ðordevic at level guard. Wow, that was robust. I’ve named these 5, however I’ve so many different improbable gamers in thoughts. I might simply kind three groups, however let’s go along with this lineup. Sorry, Dino, however I’m emotionally tied to Krešo. That’s a brutal lineup, however they’re all gamers from the previous Yugoslavia. VLADE DIVAC: Sure, aside from Sabonis, I don’t see who else might slot in. Possibly Tony Parker as a substitute of Ðordevic? VLADE DIVAC: No means. -via Index / September 21, 2024

Nonetheless, Stein is discovering it laborious to ascertain a sensible state of affairs wherein Jokic and Doncic handle to affix forces within the NBA. “It’s laborious for me to know or attempt to think about a state of affairs the place one group might discover a option to get each of them,” Stein added. -via Clutch Factors / September 19, 2024

The dynamic between the 2 every time they inhabit the identical areas has been fascinating to observe. Jokic and Doncic have been very pleasant with each other as seen of their interactions throughout All-Star Weekend in addition to earlier than and after conferences between the Nuggets and Mavericks. And certainly, there’s a “real fondness” between the 2, as confirmed by NBA insider Marc Stein in an look on DNVR Sports activities’ The DNBA Present. “There’s only a real fondness there. They get alongside nice and naturally that leads everybody to marvel will they ever play collectively,” Stein mentioned. “They’re, I imply when you consider it, two of the 5 greatest gamers on this planet come from such a small a part of the world, so I feel that’s the place the bond is. They’re simply these all world skills from a really distinctive and small place on the planet, so the bond… I feel they solely get nearer as buddies.” -via Clutch Factors / September 19, 2024