JUNE 13: The Raptors have officially hired Rajakovic, issuing a press release to formally announce their new head coach.
“We’re entering a new era – one where we are embracing new ideas, a new attitude, and now a new head coach – but our goals remain the same. A championship. Winning,” Ujiri said in a statement. “Darko shares those goals, and our belief in culture, professionalism, and hard work. His commitment to both learning and teaching our game is elite, and we are all very excited to welcome him to the Raptors family.”
JUNE 10: Grizzlies assistant coach Darko Rajakovic is getting a new job.
Sources inform Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN that the Raptors have offered Rajakovic their vacant head coaching position, and are currently in the process of ironing out terms on a deal.
Toronto team president Masai Ujiri and general manager Bobby Webster fired former head coach Nick Nurse in April after he spent 10 years with the franchise, including five in that role. Nurse led the Raptors to their first-ever title during his debut season as the team’s head coach in 2018/19.
Rajakovic, who originally hails from Serbia and coached in the Spanish EBA League before arriving stateside, got his feet wet in the NBA while working as a scouting consultant and Summer League assistant coach for the Spurs from 2004-11.
He then served as the head coach of the Tulsa 66ers, the then-D League affiliate club of the Thunder. The team has since been rechristened the Oklahoma City Blue, and of course the D League has become the G League in the intervening seasons.
Rajakovic subsequently served as an assistant coach under Scott Brooks and Billy Donovan with the Thunder from 2014-19, then worked with the Suns during the 2019/20 season on the staff of Monty Williams. He joined Taylor Jenkins‘ bench in 2020 with Memphis and soon graduated to become Jenkins’ lead assistant coach.
According to Wojnarowski, Toronto was looking for a head coach that could function either in leading a veteran-laden roster back to the playoffs or in developing a younger core.
Wojnarowski names Warriors assistant coach Kenny Atkinson and Bucks assistant Charles Lee as two other finalists who were given serious consideration.
The Raptors’ opening had been the final available head coaching vacancy on the market this year.
Darko !!!! I thought it was him.
So he’s been hired, to be fired in 2 years when things go south
Sucks being a Raptors fan past 2 years
At least you guys got a title 4 years ago (tainted as it was). A lot of NBA teams have never won even one.
…how was Toronto’s championship tainted?
Because injuries, which we all know have never been a factor in any other NBA championship /s.
Look, I’m not a Raptors fan, but I’m tired of hearing the tainted trope from everyone outside the city of Toronto. None of us has a crystal ball, so no one can definitely say that the Raps wouldn’t have won against a fully healthy Warriors team.
Is everyone also claiming that the Rockets two Championships in the ‘90’s are tainted because MJ was away from the game?
The Rockets could have handled the Bulls with Jordan. Their kryptonite was Seattle, couldn’t beat those dudes.
But your larger point is completely valid
Thanks Leonard and nurse for everything. Lowry was just there
So the warriors title over Cleveland when Kyrie and Love were hurt. Was that tainted too?
Rained? GTFOH. The Raptors can’t control who’s on the floor against them.
Not sure what kind of NBA HC he’ll make, but the guy is certainly serious about being a basketball coach. Been doing it since his teens.
Kinda funny and karmic that Atkinson wasn’t selected for any HC job, with all the recent vacancies.
Not really. He could had the hornets job(last year) if he wanted too.
That’s the funny and karmic part.
He was looking last year, he was offered a HC job but backed out the last minute.
He was looking again this year. Despite the multiple HC openings, none picked him.
Typical
A European coach in the NBA ? I’ll give him 2 seasons.
Have you read the article at all? Assistant coach in the NBA since 2014
Curious Hire.
It will have to be proven that:
Joe Wieskamp,
Jakob Poelti,
Malachi Flynn
can adjust to playing for:
Darko