Darko Rajakovic has just settled on the Raptors bench as the names of two of his assistants are announced by ESPN. It is Pat Delany and Jama Mahlalela who will be present at his side for his first experience.
The first named comes from Washington, where he had been operating since 2021 after stints in Orlando and Charlotte in recent seasons. As for the second, it is a well-known name among the Raptors.
Indeed, Mahlalela began his career in Canada, in 2013/2014, before becoming, in 2018, the coach of the G-League team of the Canadian franchise. In 2020, he even joined the staff of Nick Nurse. Finally, in 2021, he left Toronto as he was recruited by the Warriors to take care of player development.
After his first season at Golden State, he became not only NBA champion but also the replacement for Mike Brown, who left for Sacramento, near Steve Kerr.
“Jama Mahlalela did a phenomenal job last season to revamp our player development program”had commented on the coach of the Warriors during the summer of 2020. “He introduced new ideas and different energies to the staff. His desire and his joy are contagious. He can do anything, whether it’s one-on-one with players, strategizing or scouting. It was natural to take it up a notch. »
