We were waiting for Sergio Scariolo but ESPN announces that it is finally Darko Rajakovic who will replace Nick Nurse, and will therefore be the next coach of the Raptors.
At 44, the Serb was therefore preferred to Sergio Scariolo and Kenny Atkinson after a long process, since the president of Toronto, Masai Ujiri, and his GM, Bobby Webster, took almost two months to validate their choice. .
Taylor Jenkins’ assistant in Memphis since 2020, Darko Rajakovic had previously moved to Oklahoma City (2014-19) and Phoenix (2019/20), as an assistant to Scott Brooks, Billy Donovan and Monty Williams. At the Thunder, he participated in the development of many young players (Steven Adams, Andre Roberson, Terrance Ferguson, Victor Oladipo, Dennis Schröder, Alex Abrines…), continuing his work at the head of the Tulsa 66ers, the G-League team affiliated with OKC, which he led from 2012 to 2014.
The second European coach to lead an NBA franchise
Before arriving in the NBA universe, he had been coach of the Espacio Torrelodones, a Spanish fourth division team, after having made his classes in the youth categories of the Red Star of Belgrade.
Nevertheless, he has always been attracted to the United States since he came to observe the training of Lute Olson (Arizona) and Mike Krzyzewski (Duke) in the mid-2000s, also serving as a scout and assistant to the team of San Antonio Spurs Summer League, 2004-2011.
Darko Rajakovic is renowned for his encyclopedic knowledge of the game and its evolutions, as well as his passion. His qualities as a trainer are also recognized by everyone in the small world of the NBA.
Note that he becomes the second real European coach to lead a franchise in the Great League. We wish him more success than the first, Igor Kokoskov, who only stayed a year at the head of the Suns, before being pushed out. At the Raptors, Darko Rajakovic has work to do, but he will probably have some time to work.
