Toronto – Darko Rajakovic is to enhance. Whether or not it’s in gamers’ growth on the Raptors of Toronto, by supporting its employees or by pushing itself to be a greater head coach, he needs to enhance.
Rajakovic formally ended his second season as a Toronto chief coach with a 30-minute press convention on the Ovo Athletic Middle on Tuesday. The 46 -year -old man held exit interviews with all crew gamers the day earlier than and was able to take some time to consider his personal efficiency earlier than the raptors returned in the beginning of the summer season.
“I wish to take a step again to have the ability to take in all of the experiences of this yr, to research what I did effectively, but in addition to see what my weak factors are, the place I have to proceed to develop as a coach. I’m not shifting away from this,” stated Rajakovic. “I’ve been a coach for 29 years now and I’ve no ego.
“I simply wish to be the most effective model of myself, to be the most effective model for my crew and my gamers.”
Rajakovic was employed as Toronto head coach in June 2023 and led the crew to 2 dropping seasons, with a slight enchancment from one yr to the following, going from a document of 25-57 in 2023-24 to a document of 30-52 final season.
Associated movies
However Rajakovic, recognized for his growth expertise, was not dropped at win. A minimum of not in the beginning, whereas the raptors leaned in a reconstruction.
Get day by day nationwide information
Get the most effective information of the day, the titles of political, financial and present affairs, delivered in your reception field as soon as a day.
“I believe it was a great season for us: yr 1 of reconstruction,” stated Rajakovic after opening his press convention by thanking followers and property for his or her assist.
“Now it is time for the following chapter and it is time for us to take the following step. How can we get there? We arrive there by doubling our habits, by doubling our exhausting work, doubling to consider in our younger gamers and our younger folks, and by persevering with to develop our crew. ”
Rajakovic deplored the truth that his starters – Scottie Barnes, RJ Barrett de Mississauga, Ontario, Immanuel Quickley and Jakob Poeltl – didn’t even play 10 video games collectively once they all fought with accidents all through the season.
However he additionally underlined sure promising developments for Toronto.
The Raptors set a franchise document in a single season with 2,340 assists in 2024-25, exceeding the earlier document which was established final yr (2,335). Toronto recorded 4,675 assists within the final two seasons – the fifth largest variety of the NBA throughout this era.
“I believe I’ve recognized quite a lot of basketball. I performed with American basketball. In school, I most likely misplaced ten video games,” Quickley stated on Monday. “I perceive what coaches should succeed and he has all these attributes.
“The will to win, the time it’s important to spend making an attempt to arrange. It’s one step forward of the match.”
Rajakovic has actually put his cash the place his mouth is when he and his spouse, Gaga, will make a donation of US $ 70,000 to Toronto hospital for sick youngsters, the analysis hospital for youngsters St. Jude in Memphis and the Belgrade college youngsters’s hospital in Serbia for a second consecutive yr. The sum was primarily based on a dedication made by the Rajakovic household of $ 30 for every decreased move recorded through the season in recognition of the thirtieth anniversary of the Raptors.
Defensively, Rajakovic’s diagrams additionally labored, even with a number of starters working by accidents or take frequent days of relaxation.
Though Toronto had a 6-9 file in his final 15 common season video games, the Raptors had the fifth greatest protection of the League throughout this part. Their defensive word 109.2 was behind Orlando Magic (108.1), Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder (108.1), Los Angeles Clippers (108,2) and Miami Warmth (109,2).
These 4 groups are in post-season of the NBA.
“His means to enter this season with one with a really agency accent on the duty and to rework the crew into the most effective defensive crew previously two months, three months, with maybe a man who’s an almighty man,” stated veteran striker Garrett Temple after the final Toronto house recreation of the season. “It says quite a bit about its means to develop and construct a tradition.
“I believe he has proven that it’s the man who can deliver this crew the place we – you had been – in 2019.”
This Canadian press report was printed for the primary time on April 15, 2025.
& Copy 2025 the Canadian press
