The head coaching saga is finally over for the Toronto Raptors as the team has named Memphis Grizzlies assistant Darko Rajakovic as the 10th head coach in franchise history. Masai Ujiri’s front office took their time and kept fans waiting but they seem to have found their man after much deliberation.
What does hiring Darko Rajakovic really mean for the organization? Just when it seemed like the team was going to go all in on another year with this core, they could pivot and actually focus on youth and development with such a developmentally driven hire in Rajakovic.
Jacob Gramegna makes sense of the decision and investigates the truth behind the hire in today’s video on Amateur Hour Sports.
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0:00 – Overview
0:45 – Darko Rajakovic Named Head Coach
2:01 – What the Raptors were looking for
2:54 – What Rajakovic will bring to Toronto
4:03 – Raptors choosing a direction?
5:03 – How Darko became the first choice
6:10 – Is Darko the right fit?
7:22 – the biggest change the Raptors needed
8:15 – Good hire?
9:34 – The Raptors are ready to shake things up
This is Amateur Hour Sports. On this channel, Jacob Gramegna analyzes and breaks down the latest on the Toronto Raptors NBA team from trade rumors to post-game reactions, analysis, and much more. By subscribing to this channel you will be there first to watch and enjoy 3-4 videos a week all focused on this team and on game days Jacob goes live on the channel for a watch party where he interacts with chat, answers your questions, and analyses the game as it happens with play by play and commentary. Join the Amateur Hour Army today by subscribing and consider becoming a member to give extra support to the channel and help create better content more often.
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21 Comments
I like it
He's probably just relieved to get away from someone as hard and as intimidating as Ja Morant
The best part of the Darko hire, is not having to hear you say “Scary-olo” anymore, just butchering the man’s name.
I am here again for the real reason
I’m just glad Nash isn’t the coach 😂 scoot is coming home to be developed baby 😂😂
The Raptors are returning to their 'roots' that made them one of the premiere franchises in the past– a model franchise that develops their own stars.
As Justin Champaigne said after turning down 17 offers from other teams, "In college we keep on hearing all of these stories about Toronto and it's all true"
It didn't turn out to well for him– Nick Nurse killed the spirit of the team. In Masai we trust.
Let's see what Darkhorse Rajakovic can do
Nurse played a select few and the rest of the team was banished to the bench, depending on his mood that day. He had no desire or patience to develop or give anyone a chance, at this stage in his career so it is best that he move on. Can’t imagine how it felt going through the motions and never getting to play. All the best to Nick and welcome coach Darko.
They will hire a defensive minded assignment
Fred van fleet needs a change period.. If Pascal stay he will do less dribbling and more quicker decisions on offense
Great choice of coaching selection.. Intuitive feeling of a good move
Im surprised how many people are shitting on this and saying they should have kept nurse.
Lol so many casuals follow the raptors now its crazy. Duane Casey probably wins the chip with the raptors on that championship team as well.
They didnt win back to back coaches of the year because THEY were significant. They won it because they had championship caliber teams winning 55+ games.
Nick Nurse had worse and worse players and his teams got worse and worse. So you say WELL HOW IS IT HIS FAULT THEN? simple. Any old coach get whats expected out of a team.. if you want someone to maximize a teams potential then Nick wasnt your guy. Philosophically I dont think Nick will have any real success in the nba. His idea on winning basketball depend on players not actually being human or feeling any level of fatigue. Also he plays to mold players into his brand of basketball rather than maximizing a teams potential on their strengths.
If Nick nurse coached 5 james hardens on 1 team he would try to get them all the place defense first lol. I agree defense is most important but a 5 man james harden team wins way more outscoring the other team than pretending they can defend. Im so effing happy we at least get something different then last yea because god was that aweful
The nxt thing we need is Fred to get out of here.
I like the coaching choice. Definitely a sleeper pick from Masai.
Absolutely delighted! For both Raptors and Darko, I feel they're the perfect fit. I know we'll enjoy watching the Raptors from now on. He has a knack for recognizing how to reach each of his players and get them going, and more importantly, get them going within the team concept.
I'm the Raptors fan literally since day 1 and I've never been this excited for the upcoming season.
I like the reasoning behind this choice, but I have to wonder what steered them away from Jerry Stackhouse? The G League credentials are similar. The development factor is obviously not an issue with Stackhouse. The big reason I always leaned towards Stackhouse was his familiarity with the Raptors and their current player roster. He'd coached a lot of them. If he wasn't good with development, he wouldn't have headed to the college coaching ranks. Any idea what took Stackhouse out of the picture? How does he compare head to head?
Well respected in the grizzlies franchise
I see the logic over Sergio. D knows the league, the coaches, the players, the refs, the tendencies. He has built currency within the league. Just as it was was NN time I believe this is his time. The risk reward ratio is less with D vs Sergio. It will be interesting for sure.
Of the 4 Tradeables FVV, Pascal, OG and Gary Trent Jr. Who would you keep if a this is indeed a Developing Team. for me OG and Gary Trent Jr. should get new Leases of Basketball 🏀 with Darko.
Rajakovic knows there is less guns in Canada… 😂
Let’s Go Raptors! 🦖🦖🦖