The Toronto Raptors have found their new head coach in Darko Rajakovic, a former assistant coach with the Memphis Grizzlies. As per TSN’s Josh Lewenberg, the deal is in its final stages. ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski also confirmed the news and reported that Rajakovic had emerged as the perfect candidate for the Raptors’ top job after an extensive search process.
Rajakovic, a native of Serbia, began his North America career as a head coach of the Tulsa 66ers, the G-League affiliate of the Oklahoma City Thunder. He then moved to the NBA as an assistant coach with the Thunder, the Phoenix Suns, and finally the Grizzlies, where he served as Taylor Jenkins’ top assistant before joining the Raptors.
Rajakovic’s appointment comes seven weeks after the Raptors fired their previous head coach, Nick Nurse. Nurse, who guided the team to their first franchise championship in 2019, was hired by the Philadelphia 76ers as Doc Rivers’ replacement last month.
The Raptors ended their 2022-23 season with a record of 41-41, failing to return to the playoffs after a strong campaign in 2021-22. Raptors’ President Masai Ujiri expressed disappointment at the season’s outcome and pledged to regain momentum for the team. According to Wojnarowski, the Raptors considered Golden State Warriors’ assistant Kenny Atkinson and Milwaukee Bucks’ assistant Charles Lee before finalizing Rajakovic as their head coach.
In conclusion, the Toronto Raptors have appointed Darko Rajakovic as their new head coach, succeeding Nick Nurse. Rajakovic has served as an assistant coach with three NBA teams and was Taylor Jenkins’ top assistant with the Memphis Grizzlies before joining the Raptors. The Raptors are hoping that Rajakovic can guide the team back to the playoffs after failing to qualify for postseason play this past season.
