Former Phoenix Suns head coach Igor Kokoskov has provided new insight into the franchise's key 2018 NBA Draft choice. He stated there was little internal debate before selecting Deandre Ayton first passing on Luka Doncic. This reflection arrives as the current Suns team faces a tough stretch, having just lost 122-131 to the Oklahoma City Thunder on April 28, 2026.
Kokoskov, speaking on a podcast in September, said strategic conversations about the pick were almost non-existent. "We never, literally never, had a single serious strategic conversation about who we were going to draft," Kokoskov explained. He indicated then-owner Robert Sarver favored Ayton due to his connection to the University of Arizona. Basketball reasons also played a part. The coaching staff viewed Doncic and existing star Devin Booker as occupying similar offensive roles. They projected Luka as a high-usage shooter who could pass, but not a pure point guard to pair with Booker.
The decision ultimately centered on building around Devin Booker's future. Selecting Ayton, a dominant college center, offered a different skillset. In his lone season at Arizona, Ayton averaged 20.1 points, 11.6 rebounds and 1.9 blocks per game. He shot 61.2% from the field. Phoenix saw him as a complementary piece rather than a potential overlap. It was a franchise-altering choice between two top prospects. The Suns went with the local big man, while Doncic went third to the Dallas Mavericks.
The 2018 draft remains a major "what-if" for the organization. Today, the Suns are handling a difficult period in the 2026 season. Their recent form shows just one win in their last five outings. That sequence is a concerning L-L-L-L-W, with the most recent result being a loss. They fell 122-131 to Oklahoma City on April 28. Before that, they lost 109-121 to the same opponent on April 25. The slide includes a 120-107 road loss to the Thunder on April 23 and a heavy 119-84 defeat on April 19.
Their sole recent victory was a convincing 135-103 win over Oklahoma City back on April 13. The team's struggles were evident even earlier, with a 101-73 loss to the Los Angeles Lakers on April 11. This tough run highlights the ongoing challenge of constructing a contender, a process that arguably began with that 2018 draft decision. Fans can track the team's progress and check upcoming games on our [fixtures](/fixtures) page.
Eight years later, the career paths of Ayton and Doncic have fueled endless debate among Suns supporters. Kokoskov's comments confirm the choice was made with a specific vision for Booker's supporting cast. While the basketball logic was clear at the time, the subsequent success of Doncic has inevitably led to second-guessing. The story is a reminder of how draft decisions can define a team's trajectory for a decade or more. For the Suns, aligning the right stars remains the constant goal, both in retrospect and for the future.
