Born in Serbia, Darko Rajakovic started his coaching career when he was just 16 years old. He is known for leading his teams to glory and improving potential players to a star level. He has had a diverse coaching career, working with teams in different countries and at various levels of competition. With his 1st NBA head coach assignment, we will go through his coaching journey.
Teams Darko Rajakovic coached
In June 2023, Toronto Raptors appointed Darko Rajakovic their head coach after sacking of Nick Nurse. Generally, it takes years to make it as an NBA head coach, with the responsibilities and duties involved in the same. But the Serbian took less than a decade to rise to the position. His passion and dedication to the game are unparalleled. He spent the first 10 years of his coaching career in Serbia. Developing young Serbian stars, Darko moved to Duke University and the University of Arizona to understand other aspects of coaching and recruitment.
He also worked in Spain as head coach for Espacio Torrelodones, a second-division team in the Spanish league. With his player development system, the team got promotion to the Liga division. Rajakovic also had a knack for balancing offence and defence on the court, allowing his team to have control over the game for a longer period.
While Darko Rajakovic did wonders for the teams he was associated with in Europe, his US resume is also very impressive. In 2012, Rajakovic became the head coach of the Tulsa 66ers. The NBA development team was associated with OKC and provided 11 players to the league, highlighting Darko’s positive effect on the young budding stars.
Later Darko Rajakovic entered the big league as an assistant coach. He worked at the Oklahoma City Thunders (2014-2019), Phoenix Suns (2019-2020) and very recently with the Memphis Grizzlies. At the Grizzlies, Darko got a chance to lead the team in the absence of Taylor Jenkins. In 5 games, Darko led them to 4 wins, including a win over defending champions Golden State Warriors.
After firing Nick Nurse, the Raptors signed Darko Rajakovic as their head coach for the 2023-24 season. With a mix of established stars and young talent in the team, Darko would be looking to put the Raptors back in the championship contention.
FAQs
A. Darko Rajakovic was born in SR Serbia, SFR Yugoslavia.
A. No, there are no definitive records regarding Darko Rajakovic playing career either.
A. Darko Rajakovic signed his 1st head coaching contract with the Raptors in 2023, and will make his debut for the 2023-24 season.
A. Although he is yet to coach any NBA team, he worked as an interim Coach at the Grizzlies and had an 80%-win ratio in 5 games.
A. Darko Rajakovic is 44 years old as of 2023
