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Player Development and the Future with Darko Rajakovic | Raptors Show
SPORTSNET
June 13, 2023
New Toronto Raptors Head Coach Darko Rajakovic joins the show to chat with Will Lou about player development, leadership philosophies, and his expectations for Scottie Barnes.
What we learned about new Raptors head coach Darko Rajakovic
The Toronto Raptors have named Darko Rajakovic as the 10th head coach in the NBA team's history.
torontosun.com
1. He’s ready for the big job:
Rajakovic has spent the last nine years as an NBA assistant coach with three organizations, so we asked why he believes he’s ready for the next step.
“I was a head coach for 17 years before becoming an assistant coach for the first time in the NBA,” was his quick response.
“I was in the hot seat for many, many years coaching in Serbia, coaching in Spain, coaching in the G League level, so, I’m very familiar with what it looks like to be a decision maker and to live that life day in and day out. The last eight, nine years being an assistant coach in the NBA just helped me to see things from another angle,” Rajakovic said.
“He does have some head coaching experience. And I think that that dynamic never changes,” added Raptors general manager Bobby Webster.
“That was a huge part of trying to get perspective from former players that he’s coached. It is different as an assistant but to see him a bit in that next head coaching light, by and large, everyone felt like there was a natural progression for him.”
Rajakovic’s predecessor, Nurse, succeeded with a similar background. Nurse had spent years as a head coach around the world and then went five years under Dwane Casey in Toronto before replacing Casey.
“I started coaching when I was 16 years old and now some 27 years later I am appointed to be the head coach of an unbelievable organization and get a chance to live in an amazing city like Toronto. I’m just proud to be here today and to represent,” Rajakovic said.
2. He’s more than just an offensive mind:
Rajakovic arrives with a reputation as an outstanding teacher of offence. It was his chief duty in Memphis, and the Grizzlies were an excellent offensive squad while he was there. Still, it’s rare for a top level coach to be a specialist, this isn’t football, and Rajakovic knows a thing or two at the other end of the floor too. He’s excited to teach there as well, particularly with all the length he has at his disposal with the roster the front office has built.
He says that will give them the “ability to do so many things from switching, from different coverages on the ball and off the ball. For me, everything defensively starts with protecting the paint. If you protect the paint, after that we’re going to take away corner threes, and we’re going to have late contested wing threes,” he said. That will be a change. Under Nurse, the Raptors conceded a ton of corner three-point attempts — the easiest three-point shots to make, since they are closer than other three-point attempts.
“I’m really looking forward to talk with our guys as well and see their comfort level with all of these things. All decisions that I’m going to be making, I’m going to consult with players and people in the organization, with my coaching staff. So don’t worry, we’re gonna have a really good defence,” Rajakovic proclaimed.
3. He’s a student of the game, literally:
Rajakovic has spent decades living and breathing basketball. He mentioned he finished the basketball school for coaches in Serbia, then, upon heading to coach in Spain, had to do the same, this time in Spanish. “So, I think that I had a great baseline to learn about biomechanics, to learn about sociology, to learn about psychology, to learn about so many different aspects that are important for the game,” he said.
“So understanding from that perspective, how the game is played and developed, I think is going to be my big strength … Learning in this profession does not stop and I am eager to learn from players, from my coaching staff, from people in the front office. As I said, it’s not about me, it’s about my daily approach, how I’m gonna get better so I can be better for the team.”
4. It’s a player’s league and he’s a player’s coach:
Rajakovic built close bonds with players in his past spots. People like Devin Booker, Jaren Jackson Jr., Desmond Bane, Serge Ibaka and Tyus Jones raved about him. This will be a different role, but he intends to stay on the same page as his players by staying connected with them:
“First of all, I want to be very invested in them as human beings. I see every player as a person with family, whatever is going on in those lives I want those guys to know and to feel that I really care about them,” he said.
“I really want to connect with those guys on a personal level, when they know how much I love them and care about them, I have a strong belief that we’re gonna come together as a group and be ready to take it to another level … Since the day I started coaching, for me the biggest thing I enjoy is seeing players get better, players improve. You are going to win games, you are going to lose games — definitely we want to win every single night — but seeing the team grow, seeing the players grow, seeing people throughout the organization grow is something that has always been my biggest reward and that’s how I operate,” Rajakovic said.
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saska sault
Registered User
Basketball is a much more global game than hockey.. Salaries represent that. Guys can take care of generations of their family, can't blame them for maximizing during a short career. If Fred blows out his knee he could be looking at a difference of 60 to 100 million long term.
Rajakovic on being named the head coach of the Raptors, his unique journey to the top & Jokic's muted celebrations - TSN.ca
The newly named head coach of the Raptors Darko Rakajovic joins us on OverDrive to chat about being named the head coach of the Raptors, Jokic winning finals MVP and what that means for Serbia, his unique journey to becoming a NBA head coach, what are his priorities as the new head coach of the team and more!
The newly named head coach of the Raptors Darko Rakajovic joins us on OverDrive to chat about being named the head coach of the Raptors, Jokic winning finals MVP and what that means for Serbia, his unique journey to becoming a NBA head coach, what are his priorities as the new head coach of the team and more!
Leaf Rocket
Leaf Fan Till I Die
You'd think by now they'd realize that half court offense matters a lot in NBA. Get some talented scorers.
Webster on what made Rajakovic an appealing hire, what VanVleet means to Raptors’ culture and more - TSN.ca
Toronto Raptors general manager Bobby Webster joins First Up to discuss the club naming Darko Rajakovic as its head coach, how the Raptors are approaching the potential re-signing of Fred VanVleet, what coaching characteristics Rajakovic possesses that made him attractive and more.
Toronto Raptors general manager Bobby Webster joins First Up to discuss the club naming Darko Rajakovic as its head coach, how the Raptors are approaching the potential re-signing of Fred VanVleet, what coaching characteristics Rajakovic possesses that made him attractive and more.
Darko Rajaković’s Sideline Style w/ Bobby Webster & Randy Foye - The FAN Morning Show
Afterwards, Toronto Raptors GM Bobby Webster joins the program to discuss the team’s hiring of Rajaković, why he’s the right fit for this group, next week’s NBA Draft, and the direction for the organization moving forward (35:46).
Afterwards, Toronto Raptors GM Bobby Webster joins the program to discuss the team’s hiring of Rajaković, why he’s the right fit for this group, next week’s NBA Draft, and the direction for the organization moving forward (35:46).
2023 NBA mock draft: Why Scoot Henderson is still in play at No. 2
With the draft just over a week away, Jonathan Givony and Jeremy Woo share their latest intel from around the league.
11. Orlando Magic (via Chicago)
Gradey Dick
Kansas
SG/SF
Age: 19.5
Dick's draft range appears to be a little wider than initially anticipated, as he'll be conducting workouts with Orlando for this slot, as well as Oklahoma City (No. 12) and Toronto (No. 13). The pre-draft process, which mostly revolves around one-on-zero workouts in Dick's case, doesn't necessarily capture his strengths: confidence, competitiveness and feel for the game, which are difficult to measure in drills. Nonetheless, getting a shooter of Dick's caliber would be a significant boon for the Magic, who have plenty of opportunity on the wing and need to add as much floor spacing as they can to amplify the strengths of franchise stalwarts Banchero and Wagner. Should Dick slide past Orlando, Toronto is believed to be a strong suitor. -- Givony
13. Toronto Raptors
Jalen Hood-Schifino
Indiana
PG/SG
Age: 19.9
Many around the NBA are curious to see if the Raptors will move up on draft night, as there's a sense that they could be significant trade players depending on how aggressively they want to get involved with the likes of Pascal Siakam and others. Should they stand pat, targeting a guard with considerable upside as a shot-creator -- such as Hood-Schifino -- makes sense. However, adding shooting to this roster will also be another significant priority. There's a big glut of players in this range (Dick, Bufkin, Cason Wallace, Nick Smith Jr., Jett Howard), but Hood-Schifino's terrific physical traits along with the potential star power he offers could make him very attractive at this slot. -- Givony
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GoonieFace
Registered User
Who the heck would trade anything substantial for him? Flynn for Zion and call it a day
Just looking at the money, and holy crap a Zion trade would hurt.
For Toronto to get Zion, they would have to trade the salary equivalents of Boucher, Young, Porter plus (before actually trading something for him)
Rajakovic eager to bring 'swag' to the Raptors, help Barnes reach his big potential
TSN
June 13, 2023
New Raptors head coach Darko Rajakovic sits down with Josh Lewenberg to shed light on who he is as a person and a coach, explain how excited he is to help Scottie Barnes reach his potential, share why bringing 'swag' to the team is a key coaching philosophy for him, and much more.
If we stand pat, Cason Wallace is my guy. I believe we SHOULD trade for Simons and #3 from Portland, and take Scoot, and start re-making the team in the image of a modern offensive-minded squad.
Excited to see where a new coach can take us.
Excited to see where a new coach can take us.
So here's the thing...
If we sell everything, we still take back NBA players. If FVV wants to sign with Phoenix, for example, we take back Chris Paul. At this stage, Chris Paul isn't as good of a player as Fred, but he might be a better fit for the offense we will likely want to run.
GTJ is expected to opt out of his 18.8M option and comparable contracts are around 30M per year (like FVV). If he goes to Orlando (rumored), they likely need to move Isaac and Harris, or they would need to essentially gut their bench to make it work (and likely include a 1st to convince Toronto to not flat out say no).
If we trade OG to Portland (shopping a high pick), 3 + Winslow + 23 would work salaries wise.
If we traded Siakim to Houston (shopping 4 to rapidly improve), they could straight up trade us picks, or they could trade us younger players that could contribute.
Note: All of these scenarios could change in a hurry, but the result of this would be something like:
Poetl
Isaac
Draft Pick
Barnes
Paul
With a bench including: Winslow, Harris, Draft Pick, Draft Pick, Boucher, Koloko, Porter Jr
