Ayton or Doncic: Kokoskov reveals the inside story of the 2018 NBA Draft
Igor Kokoskov looks back at the 2018 Draft and explains why Phoenix preferred Deandre Ayton over Luka Doncic, while also revealing his alternative plan
In hindsight, it looks like one of the biggest sliding doors in recent NBA history, but Phoenix may have had very little to choose from. Deandre Ayton or Luka Doncic? According to Igor Kokoskov, then the Suns’ head coach and already Doncic’s coach at EuroBasket 2017, the actual debate between the two never even really began.
Eight years after that Draft, Kokoskov revealed an interesting behind-the-scenes detail: according to him, then-owner Robert Sarver had essentially already decided to select Ayton with the No. 1 pick before seriously involving the coaching staff.
We never, literally never, had a real strategic conversation about who we were going to pick. To me, that was more than enough of an indication that the decision had already been made
Igor Kokoskov
It was a particularly unusual situation given Kokoskov’s presence. Few people within the organization knew Doncic as well as he did: just one year earlier, he had coached him at EuroBasket, winning the tournament with Slovenia while getting a close-up look at an 18-year-old Luka.
Why Phoenix preferred Ayton over Doncic
According to Kokoskov, two factors played a role in Sarver’s decision. The first was the Arizona connection: the former Suns owner had attended college in the state, while Ayton was coming off a season averaging 20.1 points, 11.6 rebounds and 1.9 blocks per game with the Arizona Wildcats.
The second involved his potential fit alongside Devin Booker, who had already been identified as the franchise’s face.
We had just signed Booker, and I think Luka was viewed as a high-usage player who could shoot and pass, but not as a true point guard. The idea was that he and Booker might overlap rather than complement each other
Igor Kokoskov
Kokoskov attributes that assessment primarily to Sarver and believes it was also influenced by his limited familiarity with the player.
Sarver saw Luka play live only once and had dinner with him only once. I think if he had followed him and watched him more, things might have gone differently. He had already made his decision, and everything involving Luka was basically about finding reasons to justify taking Ayton with the No. 1 pick
Igor Kokoskov
Kokoskov’s plan: Doncic plus Capela
The most curious part of the story, however, came about half an hour before the Draft began. Only then, according to Kokoskov, did Sarver actually ask the staff which direction they wanted to take.
The coach’s answer was very different from the plan Phoenix ultimately followed.
He asked me, ‘Coach, what do we do?’ I told him, ‘We pick Luka, sign Capela in free agency, and see if Atlanta is willing to trade its pick’
Igor Kokoskov
Kokoskov also recalls the moment with a touch of irony:
I told him, ‘I’m really glad you asked me. It’s the first time you’ve asked me, half an hour before the Draft, but I’m still glad you did’
Igor Kokoskov
The idea, then, was to immediately build around Booker and Doncic, while adding Clint Capela as the team’s interior anchor. The plan never came to fruition: Phoenix used the No. 1 overall pick on Ayton, while Luka went to Atlanta at No. 3 before being immediately traded to the Dallas Mavericks in exchange for Trae Young.
Eight years later, it is impossible not to look back at that night through completely different eyes. Ayton was not an outright failure in Phoenix and played an important role on the team that reached the 2021 NBA Finals. Doncic, however, developed into one of the defining players of his generation, earning scoring titles, multiple All-NBA selections and a trip to the Finals.