Deandre Ayton over Luka Doncic: Social media still slamming Phoenix Suns for draft pick
Here we go again.
The Phoenix Suns have been ridiculed, slammed and mocked (and every other synonym for criticized) over the years for taking Deandre Ayton with the No. 1 pick in the 2018 NBA Draft when they could have had Luka Doncic (and when their head coach at the time had previously coached Doncic).
The ridicule is back with the Doncic-led Dallas Mavericks in the 2024 NBA Finals against the Boston Celtics.
An anonymous NBA executive recently said that Ayton over Doncic trade might be as bad as the Portland Trail Blazers taking Sam Bowie over Michael Jordan in the 1984 NBA Draft.
From NBA Insider Marc Stein: "And as put to me by one admiring rival executive, who has been marveling at Doncic's play throughout these playoffs, watching intently as No. 77 repeatedly punishes defenses that are trying to wear him down: 'Drafting Deandre Ayton over Luka Doncic might one day be as bad as Bowie over Jordan.'"
Ouch.
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Can you imagine how different the Suns would be right now if the team had taken Doncic in 2018? There's no telling just how different the franchise would have looked.
Phoenix ended up trading Ayton before the season to the Trail Blazers for a package that included Jusuf Nurkic and Grayson Allen. Doncic has the Mavericks four wins away from an NBA title.
Social media hasn't forgotten about Phoenix passing on Doncic in the 2018 NBA Draft ever since it happened.
Don't expect it to ever forget that fact, especially if Doncic leads the Mavericks to an NBA title in the 2024 NBA Finals.
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Social media reminded the world that the Suns took Deandre Ayton over Luka Doncic:
Reminder:
1st — Deandre Ayton
2nd — Marvin Bagley
3rd — Luka Doncic pic.twitter.com/SIgfUC2QIy— StatMuse (@statmuse) June 3, 2024
Imagine watching an 18 years old Luka Doncic win a Euroleague MVP and Championship…
and saying nah I want Deandre Ayton or Marvin Bagley 😂 pic.twitter.com/KXJVU1PkZn— Hater Report (@HaterReport_) June 2, 2024
Deandre Ayton going number 1 overall in a draft with Luka doncic trae young and SGA is hilarious looking back at it pic.twitter.com/Gky6DcWFaC
— John (@iam_johnw) January 27, 2024
The Suns hired Luka Doncic’s Slovenia national team coach, Igor Kokoskov, heading into the 2018 draft.
Phoenix drafted Deandre Ayton instead at No. 1.
A moment in time where Phoenix could have formed one of the most lethal homegrown scoring duos ever in Devin Booker and Doncic. pic.twitter.com/7ROOWwz7Ts— Evan Sidery (@esidery) May 27, 2024
One thing I’ll never understand is how Ayton was the consensus #1 pick in the same year that a 19 year old Luka Doncic literally won MVP of the second best *professional* basketball league in the world
— karan (@905Kar) May 31, 2024
sometimes i think about the fact that the phoenix suns drafted deandre ayton and the sacramento kings drafted marvin bagley when both of them could’ve drafted luka doncic
— claire de lune (@ClaireMPLS) May 25, 2024
I think I need the Mavericks to win the whole thing so that I can finally, fully grieve the 2018 NBA Draft.
Let's just get it over with so I can fully forgive myself and the @Suns for wanting and choosing Ayton over Doncic.— Ryan Guard (@ryanguard) May 31, 2024
The Phoenix Suns picked Deandre Ayton instead of Luka Doncic.
— Jack Grogan (@jackgrogan29) May 25, 2024
people really thought DeAndre Ayton and Marvin Bagley were better basketball players than Luka freaking Doncic
— Kyle Goon (@kylegoon) May 25, 2024
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Reach Jeremy Cluff at jeremy.cluff@arizonarepublic.com. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter @Jeremy_Cluff.
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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Deandre Ayton over Luka Doncic: Social media remembers 2018 NBA Draft
