By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Following the conclusion of the 2024-25 NBA Regular Season and Toronto Raptors being knocked out of the 2025 Playoffs presented by Google, Jakob Poeltl is comfortable with team projections for the next season and excited to continue working with Darko Rajakovic.
“There’s some little nuances, obviously, you pick on just from the experience, like how to handle being an NBA coach, how to deal with players,” Poeltl shared his view on adjustments made by the 46-year-old Serbian play-caller, “There’s a few situations where he’s taking a little bit step back, letting guys like myself or other guys that have more experience kind of follow their routines the way they like the way I’ve done it and knowing how to make myself successful. I think he’s found a good balance there.”
“He knows when to be on top of everybody and on top of the team, and knows when to let the reins go a little bit as well,” he added during an end-of-season press conference on Monday, “That’s been really cool to see and there’s something that I really appreciate and I told him that as well. But I think, overall, he’s still the same guy. He’s very unique in his ways, and we appreciate him for it.”
A veteran of 617 NBA games and among the most experienced Raptors, the 29-year-old Austrian center is under contract for the 2025-26 season. Over 57 appearances in 2024-25, he tallied a career-high 14.5 points per game, along with 8.6 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 1.2 blocks, and 1.2 steals per contest.
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