Yesterday, a group of Toronto Raptors players took the panel for media exit interviews, sharing insights on the 2024-25 season and expressing hopeful visions for the future.
This morning, it was Raptors head coach Darko Rajakovic who took center stage in front of the media. His responses revealed a no-nonsense approach, while still expressing a clear appreciation and admiration for his young roster—a tough-love coaching style, if you will.
Rajakovic went in-depth on several topics, including the upcoming arrival of Brandon Ingram and how he will fit into the team. He also spoke about his young core pieces, Immanuel Quickley and Scottie Barnes, praising their character, work ethic, and willingness to overcome adversity.
Rajakovic recalled a halftime conversation with Scottie Barnes during a road game earlier this season. He explained that while Barnes wasn’t playing poorly, he wanted to motivate him to step up in the second half. Instead of reacting with frustration or confusion, Barnes took the feedback well and said, “My bad coach, I’ve got to be better.”
As a result, Barnes played with much more intensity in the second half, and the team seemed to find a renewed sense of spirit and energy. Rajakovic's pep talk really worked wonders, even if there wasn't a clear moment that triggered it.
However, the most striking comments from Rajakovic came in his clear response to a question about the fierce competition for minutes within the Raptors' rotation next season, as many talented players look poised to battle for playing time.
Darko Rajakovic challenges Raptors players to prove themselves
Rajakovic kept it real with his answer, delivering a truly blunt response as he said:
"If I wanted to keep people happy, I would be selling ice cream, I would not be a basketball coach. My job is not to keep people happy. My job is to keep people accountable, help them grow, and put them in a situation to be successful. With that being said, I cannot play 15 players every single day, every single night, in a game. Competition, they're gonna be fighting for it. They gotta stay ready. You might be playing one night, you might be playing 10 minutes or 15 minutes, are you going to be a good teammate? All of those things come down to the work that those guys put in... I want to be facing those decisions, so I'm not shying away from that. "Darko Rajakovic, April 15, 2025
I’m not surprised at all by how straightforward Rajakovic was in his answer. From what I’ve seen in his two seasons in Toronto, it's clear he has no time for games or waiting out slumps with his best players. Rajakovic isn't afraid to make quick adjustments and will take minutes away from guys who may have earned their roles in the past if they don’t fit his vision—just look at Chris Boucher as a prime example.
This statement rings truer now than ever. With a wave of young talent joining the Raptors in recent years, the team is filled with eager players ready to prove themselves as key pieces of the core moving forward. It's largely why I suggested in another piece that the Raptors will likely face tough decisions this offseason as they navigate their roster andconsider whose chapters may need to be closed.
I think it's great to see that Rajakovic holds everyone accountable, including his starters and even franchise player Scottie Barnes. No one is exempt from discipline or criticism just because of their status in the Raptors' lineup.
That’s the approach every coach should take—building a rapport with the team while still making it clear who's in charge. It’s all about maintaining camaraderie, respect, and leadership. You can't let the inmates run the asylum because whenever franchises go down that path, it inevitably comes back to haunt them.
So, I'm all here for it. Way to go, Coach Darko.