By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Toronto Raptors head coach Darko Rajakovic used his deep European roots to preview how his squad should compete in the 2026 NBA Playoffs, presented by Google.
After leading the Raptors to a 46-36 record in the 2025-26 Regular Season and the fifth seed in the Eastern Conference, the Cacak native officially becomes the first European-born and raised head coach in league history to navigate a team into the postseason from the start of a campaign.
In Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals, his side is preparing to face the Cleveland Cavaliers at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse on Saturday. Rajakovic was dismissive of the pressure surrounding a hostile road environment. Drawing a sharp contrast between NBA crowds and the intense atmospheres in the Old Continent, the coach remains focused on the fundamentals.
“We’ve got to focus on what we need to do guarding the ball, where we need to be in our protection spots, how we need to box out, and how hard we need to run in transition. Those are the things that are in our control,” he mentioned during a press conference on Thursday. “We’re not playing in Europe. They’re not going to be throwing bottles at us, and there’s going to be no lasers in our eyes when we’re shooting free throws. So, we’re not going to be dealing with those kinds of obstacles. They’re going to be loud on the other side. So what?”
Rajakovic’s journey to this milestone includes a decade as a high-level assistant in the NBA and a stint as the first non-North American head coach in G League history. Earlier in his coaching career, he also served as an assistant coach with the senior national team of Serbia, besides working with Serbian and Spanish clubs.