NBA Twitter, Toronto Raptors fans react to Darko Rajakovic hire
By Mike Luciano
The Toronto Raptors became the last team to hire their head coach for the 2023-24 season, choosing to replace Nick Nurse with Darko Rajakoivic. The second Serbian head coach in NBA history, Rajakovic spent the last few seasons as an assistant with the Memphis Grizzlies.
Rajakovic has been coaching in America for over a decade, splitting his time between the Tulsa 66ers of the G League and nine straight years as an assistant with the Thunder, Suns, and Grizzlies. He’s put his time in, and Darko is finally getting his shot to run a team.
Masai Ujiri and the Raptors passed over a former NBA head coach in Kenny Atkinson, and a well-respected former assistant in Sergio Scariolo to hire Rajakovic. Fans may not be very familiar with him, but it seems like many with eyes on the league are very bullish on him.
NBA Twitter, Toronto Raptors fans react to Darko Rajakovic.
Former ESPN writer and Grizzlies VP of basketball operation John Hollinger loved this move, saying that Rajakovic is thought very highly of by both Oklahoma City and Memphis.
Darko!!! Really like this hire for Toronto, was very well thought of in both Memphis and OKC.
— John Hollinger (@johnhollinger) June 10, 2023
Rajakovic has the G league coaching experience and player development savvy that Masai Ujiri is looking for. He played a part in names like Ja Morant, Desmond Bane, and Jaren Jackson Jr. all taking strides in the right direction.
For the uninitiated, Darko Rajaković has been an assistant in the NBA since 2014 — with stints in OKC, Phoenix and most recently Memphis. He spent 2 years as the coach of the Tulsa 66ers before that.
— Esfandiar Baraheni (@JustEsBaraheni) June 10, 2023
And now, the head coach of the Toronto Raptors.
Samson Folk believes that Scottie Barnes could be the main benefactor of a Rajakovic system, as he praises quick decisions, ball movement, and what he calls “beautiful basketball” on the floor.
Not that this is a shock, but Darko's spoken ideals on offense run somewhat counter to how the Raptors have played the past couple years
— Samson Folk (the coach) (@samfolkk) June 10, 2023
.5 players (quick decision makers), teamwork, in pursuit of "beautiful basketball"
Scottie Barnes touches going UP https://t.co/IxGOzcGAOG
Then again, not every Raptors fan is thrilled about this decision. Some view him as a clear downgrade from Nick Nurse, who took his championship ring over to the rival 76ers.
Raptors went from Nick Nurse to Darko Rajakovic pic.twitter.com/OGbtboCc8I https://t.co/nFvZ6JrxYR
— MVP43🐐 (@StepBackPascal) June 10, 2023
Many fans don’t like the fact that Rakajovic’s hire gives them less clarity on the direction of this franchise. Is this team going to tear everything down or give it one more go with the current group?
so we’re still directionless💀
— mathaesh_28 (@mathaeshb) June 10, 2023
No matter what happens, Rajakovic has a big hill to climb when it comes to developing talent. Toronto doesn’t have as many great young players as Memphis.
Darko fresh off of developing Desmond Bane is gonna see Malachi and pass out
— 🍿 (@The_6ix_man) June 10, 2023
Rajakovic has to win over some corners of the fanbase due to the fact many regard him as a very unusual hire, but he has the resume needed to get players to buy in and make sure that all of Masai Ujiri’s young players end up performing up top their potential.
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