By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Darko Rajakovic and the Toronto Raptors are currently enjoying the view from second place in the Eastern Conference, and have also secured a spot in the Quarterfinals of the Emirates NBA Cup with one game in hand. Few would have expected such success, early in the third year with the Serbian expert as the head coach.
“First of all, I don’t have a job. I don’t see it as a job. I’m just fortunate enough to be paid to work as a basketball coach,” the native of Cacak mentioned in a recent discussion with Spanish outlet Mundo Deportivo.
“I love this sport, and I don’t mind watching film all day and night, and being around players. It’s a blessing to have been in this sport as a coach for 29 years now,” he continued.
At 46, Rajakovic indeed carries plenty of coaching experience, starting back in 1996 as a 16-year-old coach at the youth level with his hometown Borac Cacak. Continuing his work at the youth level, his next stop was at Crvena Zvezda, and he also extended his career to Spain, before moving to North America, initially in the G League, and from there to the NBA.
“Of course, I can see elements of European basketball in his coaching style,” mentioned 26-year-old Raptors big, Sandro Mamukelashvili. “I think he’s fantastic, because he trusts us. That’s what I would say about European coaches, and they also want to win, and Darko really wants to win.”
The Raptors currently sit 13-5 in the Regular Season, including a 3-0 run in East Group A of the Cup.
“I’m really taking it one game at a time. I’m not trying to draw any conclusions at this point in the season. Thank God, our roster is more or less healthy. We’re doing everything we can to not only prepare the guys for the next game, but also to improve and help with recovery and nutrition, and I think that aspect is more important than it was in the past,” said Rajakovic.
Completing the group stage in the Cup, his side hosts the Indiana Pacers in Scotiabank Arena on Wednesday.