The Toronto Raptors lost some of their player development skill over the last two-three years. Nick Nurse is gone, replaced with former Memphis Grizzlies assistant coach Darko Rajakovic.
Rajakovic should bring a fresh perspective to the team’s player development as he has a history of doing so throughout his career. Sixteen years into his coaching career, including a spell as head coach of the G League Tulsa 66ers, he witnessed 11 players over a two-year span get permanent call-ups to the NBA under his tutelage.
Since 2014, he has been an assistant for the Thunder, Suns, and Grizzlies. He has overseen the positive development of several players, from Steven Adams and Victor Oladipo to Desmond Bane, Ja Morant, and Jaren Jackson Jr. along the way.
As the tenth head coach of the Raptors, there is no reason this trend won’t continue. Players across the roster may see the most benefit initially from Rajakovic’s coaching and ability to teach new things to the more impressionable members of his roster.
3 Raptors who will benefit from Darko Rajakovic.
3. Christian Koloko
Drafted in the second round during the 2022 NBA Draft, Koloko was the only seven-footer in the Raptors organization until the Jakob Poeltl move. Raw offensively, Koloko is expected someday to be the man in the middle, gobbling up rebounds and rim-protecting on the defensive end of the court.
However, Koloko needs work and repetition of the basketball concepts he is taught. He somehow managed to play about 13 minutes in 58 games under Nick Nurse, averaging a blocked shot and 1.5 defensive boards per game. This is the kind of player Rajakovic loves.
Darko Rajakovic will be great for Christian Koloko.
If there is any doubt that whatever basketball talent is in Koloko can be found by Rajakovic, just look at the list of players he has helped become consistent, rotation if not starter quality NBA players. That list includes Memphis and OKC’s man in the middle in Adams, the mercurial Jaren Jackson, and Deandre Ayton.
While Koloko is going to have to be willing to put in the work to improve, there is strong evidence Rajakovic is the man to unlock talent potential in several key young Raptors players.
2. Scottie Barnes
2023 was not the game-changing year many expected from sophomore and former rookie of the year Scottie Barnes. He averaged 15.3 points, 6.6 rebounds, and 4.8 assists in 2023. Luckily, Rajakovic’s system could be ideal for
Rajakovic has been quoted as saying:
"“We all know the importance of getting to the paint and getting great shots. When we create an advantage, we wanted to finish at the rim.”"
This was an area where the Raptors’ offense needed to improve. They were No. 18 in shots at the rim and No. 17 in drives per game. In Barnes, Rajakovic has a perfect vehicle through which he could run his attacking, Grizzlies-esque offense.
Scottie Barnes will love to be coached by Darko Rajakovic.
Barnes is one of Toronto’s most consistent rim attackers, and Rajakovic is sure to get him opportunities to do so more this coming season. More importantly, Rajakovic has a history of turning bigs into tremendous passers, which could help accentuate Barnes’ natural talents in this area.
It would also be prudent of the new coaching staff to define Barnes’s role as, until now, he’s played every position at some point. Provided Rajakovic has a very clear and thorough plan for Barnes, 2023/24 should be a much more exciting year for the Raptors’ star player.
1. OG Anunoby
In 2023, Anunoby was one of the teams’ best 3-point shooters at 38.7% despite a high volume of shots. It became apparent that Anunoby has the potential to be a perennial All-Defensive NBA team player and may even someday be named a Defensive Player of the Year.
However, he leaves you believing he can do more at the offensive end.
With an offensive-minded coach like Rajakovic, Anunoby very well could benefit, as would the team’s offensive consistency. Anunoby is quick enough and strong enough to get to the rim to attack the basket, and Rajakovic’s up-tempo attack could let him cook in this area.
Darko Rajakovic could help OG Anunoby improve quickly.
If he is unshackled and given the green light to get in the paint or even post up during half-court sets, the Raptors could become a scoring machine. Anunoby’s ability to shoot the 3-ball well should be incorporated more into the offense, as should his ability to get easy baskets.
Players like Anunoby, if given a chance, can relieve that pressure to make up for the team’s collective offensive deficiencies from last year. Rajakovic may face an uphill battle when it comes to getting everyone to buy in, but he has all the skills needed to get this offense performing in tip-top shape.