Luka Doncic Taunts Hawks Fans With Painful Draft History

Luka Doncic told Atlanta Hawks fans on Monday night that they wish they had drafted him. He made this comment during a 124-114 victory for the Los Angeles Lakers at State Farm Arena. The exchange happened right in front of the courtside seats where fans were sitting. A video of the moment was shared online by @RKessler23 on the Threads platform. Doncic reminded the crowd that Atlanta once held the rights to his future before trading them away. He spoke to them with a smile after the game ended. The 2018 NBA Draft is the source of this long-standing pain for the franchise. Atlanta picked Doncic third overall but sent him to Dallas in a deal that brought Trae Young to the Hawks. Young now plays in Washington alongside Anthony Davis. The Court-Side Exchange Doncic started the conversation by asking the fans if they regret their choice. According to a New York Post report, he said, “You all wish you would have had me. You all wish, huh?” One fan replied by claiming Atlanta did have him. Another fan disagreed immediately and insisted, “No we don’t, I’ve never wanted you.” The crowd laughed as the argument continued in front of the cameras. One fan in the group admitted the truth to the star player. That person said, “I wish we did, I do.” Doncic used this moment to drive the point home even further. He told the fan, “You know you could have had me.” The person recording the video acknowledged this fact through laughter while the game ended. A Historic Night on the Floor Doncic backed up his trash talk with a dominant performance on the court. He scored 32 points, handed out 10 assists, and grabbed eight rebounds in the win. He also recorded five steals and two blocks during the game. This stat line made him the first player in Lakers history to reach these numbers in multiple games. Not even Magic Johnson or Kareem Abdul-Jabbar achieved this feat twice while wearing the purple and gold. Walker Kessler, the new center for the Lakers, watched this display closely. He has seen enough of Doncic’s play to make a bold statement about his teammate. Kessler declared, “He’s the best player in the league” following the victory over the Hawks. This comment came just 12 games into the NBA season for the new roster. Numbers That Speak Louder Doncic is currently leading the entire NBA in scoring with an average of 40.1 points per game. His team sits at the top of the standings with a 10-2 record. He has scored over 30 points in every single game he has played this season. Before Monday, he had already scored at least 40 points in four straight games. The league honored him for his play last week by naming him the Western Conference Player of the Week. He averaged 45 points during that specific week of games. This marks his 20th career Player of the Week award and his fifth time winning it as a Laker. No player since Wilt Chamberlain in the 1962-63 season has averaged 40 points through their first nine games. The numbers show that Atlanta missed out on a historic talent that is still performing at an elite level. Doncic continues to make the Hawks pay for their mistake eight years after the trade. The Lakers maintain their winning ways while he has surpassed 50 points on two occasions this season. The franchise had its chance to build around a generational star and passed on him. Now they have to watch him dominate while wearing a different jersey.