Eight coaches stood in a visitor’s locker room as Darko Rajakovic introduced each Toronto Raptors assistant individually as “future NBA head coach.
But it’s the little things like this, amassing over nearly 30 years at the youth, college and pro levels on two continents, that built the relationships and currency for Rajakovic to stand strong in this latest endeavor. The second European to become an NBA coach, Rajakovic dreamed of this opportunity, modeling an approach after legends Zeljko Obradovic and Gregg Popovich.
“Those were my choices at the time, and I cannot really formulate why,” Rajakovic said of the former head coach of the Yugoslavian national team and the coach of the San Antonio Spurs.
“But they were the coaches that take care of the people first. I don’t know if that was in me before, or if I recognized that in them. I have to sit down and think about that one.
Like Rajakovic, his role models emanate from Serbian roots.
Popovich’s father, Raymond, was Serbian. Obradovic, also Serbian, coaches in the Basketball League of Serbia, and is often regarded as the greatest coach in European history.
Rajakovic faces a fan and fellow countryman in Nikola Jokic on Wednesday when the 11-15 Raptors host the defending champion Denver Nuggets at Scotiabank Arena (7:30 ET, League Pass).
“[I hope] he’s here for a long, long time,” the two-time Kia MVP said last June during the NBA Finals. “In [12] years from G League coach to head coach in the NBA, it’s a lot of respect for him and his hard work. He’s [seen] a lot, he’s been through a lot, and I think he deserves it.”
