The Toronto Raptors have found their new new head coach, naming Darko Rajaković to the job on Saturday, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
After interviewing J.J. Redick — and with a list of eligible names including Kenny Atkinson and Mike Budenholzer — the Raps settled on the 44-year-old native of Serbia who was most recently an assistant with the Memphis Grizzlies.
So if you haven’t been following the Grizzlies, or Rajaković’s career in general, we’ve compiled a list of four things to know about the knew head coach in Toronto to get you up to speed.
Here’s a quick rundown on the coach who filled the last remaining vacancy in the NBA.
He's been coaching in the NBA since 2014
After coaching the G-League team for the Oklahoma City Thunder from 2012-2014, the big club called him up to their bench where he remained an assistant until 2019.
Rajaković spent the 2019-20 season with the Phoenix Suns before becoming the lead assistant in Memphis for the last three years.
He was mentored by Gregg Popovich early in his career
Not a bad role model for an aspiring NBA coach!
This photo was taken back in 2008. Many things have changed since then but Coach Pop stayed the same- original, honest and caring. I’m grateful for your friendship and mentorship @NBA #basketball #Grateful pic.twitter.com/KAYUNoLgw7
— Darko Rajakovic (@DRajakovic) April 23, 2021
He's the second Serbian to serve as NBA head coach
Igor Kokoškov became the first NBA head coach from Serbia when the Phoenix Suns hired him in 2018. He lasted just one season with the club after going 19-63.
Don’t expect the Raptors to have as short of a leash with Rajaković, however. According to Wojnarowski, part of the reason Toronto decided to hire Rajaković is because the believe he can help lead the team in the event it has to rebuild.
A history of developing talent
It makes sense the Raptors would feel confident in his ability to grow young players because Rajaković has proven he can do just that on multiple occasions.
Among the players Rajaković helped mold during his time in Oklahoma City include Victor Oladipo, Steven Adams, Terrance Ferguson and Dennis Schröder.
Not to mention the current Grizzles’ core of Ja Morant, Jaren Jackson Jr. and Brandon Clarke.
