The Toronto Raptors still don’t have much of a coaching staff ironed out right now, as new head coach Darko Rajakovic hasn’t made all of his impactful hires yet. Jama Mahlalela and Pat Delaney are a good start, but more additions are needed to round out this group.
Rajakovic decided to bring on one of his former mentors and yet another international coach with two decades of experience coaching in both Europe and America. Based purely on that resume, the Raptors are adding another big name to their growing staff next to Rajakovic.
The Raptors are hiring Ivo Simovic, who spent last season at UCLA following almost a decade as a collegiate assistant and even longer as a coach in Europe, as an assistant coach. While Somovic has a personal connection to Rajakovic, his resume is impressive in its own right.
Sources: UCLA basketball assistant Ivo Simovic is finalizing a deal to become a Toronto Raptors assistant coach. He joins the staff of fellow Serbian Darko Rajakovic, who he has worked with previously in Serbia and Spain. pic.twitter.com/rTHL6KTXJB
— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) June 26, 2023
Toronto Raptors hiring Ivo Simovic alongside Darko Rajakovic.
Simovic and Rajakovic have a history together, as they have spent time together with Serbain powerhouse Crvena zvedza. Simovic was named sports director for CB Espacio Torrelodones in Spain, a team Rajakovic coached for four seasons and saw tremendous success with.
Simovic has some NBA experience, as he served as a coach for the San Antonio Spurs during their Summer League festivities in both 2013 and 2014. Toronto’s recent trends of bringing in former Spurs and coaches with a history of player development both seem to have held up.
Simovic made the move to the United States in 2015 as a college assistant, serving as a trusted leader for the Hartford Hawks and Charlotte 49ers. After a four-year stint at Loyola Maryland (where he helped develop Santi Aldama), Simovic was hired by Mick Cronin at UCLA. The Bruins went 31-6 with Simovic and sent both Jaime Jauqez and Amari Bailey to the NBA.
Have known Ivo for a few years — an outstanding teacher of the game and a genuine, kind human being. His approach and style is cut out for the NBA. He was instrumental in Santi Aldama’s ascent to the NBA & opened INTL pipeline at UCLA
— The Box and One (@TheBoxAndOne_) June 26, 2023
Home run hire https://t.co/xsbd2h4jQB
The Raptors have always looked for ways to bring the best international talent to the franchise, and the hirings of both Rajakovic and Simovic only reinforce that concept. If he gives Toronto the same sort of bump he gave the Bruins, a postseason appearance just might be in the cards.