Missing in the draft happens to everyone. You get attached to one prospect and let the next great generational talent slip through your fingers.
Often times it's a scouting error. Sometimes a player blossoms unexpectedly. And sometimes, apparently, your general manager dislikes the player's father.
Such reportedly was the case when the Kings and general manager Vlade Divac chose to pass on Luka Doncic to select Marvin Bagley III with the No. 2 overall pick in the 2018 NBA Draft, according to ESPN's Tim MacMahon.
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"My understanding is that [Divac] being so close to Luka and knowing his dad so well factored into their decision," MacMahon said on ESPN's "The Woj Pod," via NBC Sports' Kurt Helin. "Basically, he didn't think a whole lot of Luka's dad, and the whole like father like son ... well ... no, this is a different dude.
"You messed that one up, Vlade."
Now, to be fair, the Kings did already have De'Aaron Fox, so there wasn't a need for a ball-dominant guard. But, Doncic has been sensational since arriving in the NBA, blossoming into a superstar with the Dallas Mavericks. If you have the chance to get a generational talent, which Doncic appears to be, you take him, no matter who his father is.
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The Kings also weren't the only team to pass on Doncic. The Suns drafted Deandre Ayton with the No. 1 overall pick, and the Hawks drafted Doncic but traded his rights to Dallas for the rights to Trae Young and a 2019 first-round draft pick, which turned into Cam Reddish.
Doncic won the 2019 KIA NBA Rookie of the Year Award and has been lighting up everyone during his sophomore season. After torching the Rockets for 41 points Sunday, the Slovenian guard now is averaging 30.6 points, 10.1 rebounds and 9.8 assists while shooting 49.5 percent from the field.
Star now is spelled L-U-K-A. Sorry, Vlade.