‘Y’all wish’ – Luka Doncic responds to Atlanta Hawks heckler with reminder their biggest mistake

Even eight years later, Luka Doncic has not forgotten about how the Atlanta Hawks disrespected him in the NBA Draft. Doncic is now the next superstar for the Los Angeles Lakers, taking over the mantle from LeBron James following his departure earlier this summer. But before he arrived in Los Angeles, Doncic was the name and face of the Dallas Mavericks for seven years, a position carved out for him on the night of the 2018 NBA Draft. Luka Doncic pokes fun at Atlanta Hawks fan over 2018 NBA Draft trade During the Los Angeles Lakers’ win against the Atlanta Hawks, Luka Doncic got into a heated exchange with some hecklers sitting courtside. Doncic used the back-and-forth as an opportunity to remind them that the Hawks made a mistake giving him up in the 2018 NBA Draft. Luka Doncic: “You all wish you would’ve had me. You all wish, huh?” Fan #1: “We had you.” Fan #2: “No, we don’t. I’ve never wanted you.” Fan #3: “I wish we did; I do.” Luka Doncic: “You know you could have had me.” Fan #3: “He’s right.” Of course, Doncic is referencing the draft-night trade the Atlanta Hawks made in 2018. The Hawks had the #3 overall pick in the 2018 NBA Draft, with Doncic being expected to be selected by the Hawks. However, on the night, the Hawks traded the draft rights to Luka Doncic (whom they picked at #3) to the Dallas Mavericks in exchange for the draft rights to Trae Young and a 2019 protected first-round pick that turned out to be Cam Reddish. Fast-forward eight years, and the Hawks have fully given up on Trae Young, trading him to the Washington Wizards earlier this year after an eight-year stint that saw them reach the Eastern Conference Finals just once. As for Cam Reddish, he never adapted to the NBA and found himself outside of the league following the conclusion of the 2024-25 NBA season. In the early days of the trade, many had suggested that the Mavericks and Hawks had pulled off a rare win-win trade. However, following Young’s decline as a superstar, the consensus became clear – the Mavericks had pulled off a coup for Doncic. Unfortunately for the Mavericks, they didn’t get to reap the rewards of their clever trade, as Nico Harrison would trade Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers for Anthony Davis, Max Christie, and just one first-round pick. Now, the Lakers have emerged as the ultimate winners of a trade in 2018 that never included them in the first place. ‘Didn’t know much about him’: DeMarcus Cousins says his favourite Lakers player is not Luka Doncic ‘First a competitor’- JJ Redick explains why Luka Doncic is dominating the NBA ‘It’s not easy’: Luka Doncic issues verdict on Cameron Carr after his first points for the Lakers