By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
Darko Rajakovic will become the first European coach to be part of the All-Star Game, the NBA announced on Tuesday, confirming Meridian Sport and veteran reporter Pedja Saric.
The Toronto Raptors head coach will take over the International team, and his assistant, Ivo Simovic, will also be on the same bench.
JB Bickerstaff (Detroit) and Mitch Johnson (San Antonio) have the best records in the East and West and have secured their spot. Still, the new format of the All-Star Game divides the 24 players into three teams, and a third head coach is needed.
Toronto Raptors head coach Darko Rajaković has been named by NBA Commissioner Adam Silver as head coach of Team World for the 2026 NBA All-Star Game (Sunday, 2/15 on NBC & Peacock). pic.twitter.com/T7ChDPvBSc
— NBA (@NBA) February 3, 2026
The Serbian coach, who is also a member of the EuroLeague Head Coaches Board, has guided the Raptors to currently sit fourth in the East, while having a phenomenal improvement compared to last season. His selection was a no-brainer.
Per the press release: “Toronto Raptors head coach Darko Rajaković has been named by NBA Commissioner Adam Silver as head coach of Team World for the 2026 NBA All-Star Game.
A native of Serbia, Rajaković has guided the Raptors to a 30-21 record in his third season as their head coach. Toronto is tied for fourth place in the Eastern Conference.
Before joining the Raptors, Rajaković worked as an assistant coach with the Oklahoma City Thunder, Phoenix Suns and Memphis Grizzlies. He also served as a head coach for Oklahoma City’s NBA G League affiliate (then the Tulsa 66ers) and teams in Spain and Serbia. On the international stage, Rajaković was an assistant coach for Serbia at the 2019 FIBA Basketball World Cup in China.
Rajaković will join Detroit Pistons head coach J.B. Bickerstaff and San Antonio Spurs head coach Mitch Johnson as head coaches for the NBA All-Star Game. Bickerstaff and Johnson will serve as head coaches for the two teams of U.S. players.
The three NBA All-Star Game teams will be revealed tonight on Peacock, with the pregame show beginning at 7 p.m. ET, ahead of the matchup between the Boston Celtics and Dallas Mavericks at 8 p.m. ET on NBC and Peacock.
The 75th NBA All-Star Game will take place on Sunday, Feb. 15 at 5 p.m. ET at Intuit Dome in Inglewood, Calif., airing on NBC and Peacock.”