Sources have reported that the Toronto Raptors are set to appoint Memphis Grizzlies assistant Darko Rajakovic as their new head coach. After offering Rajakovic the job on Saturday, the two sides are believed to be finalizing a contract that is set to be completed soon.
Having arrived from his native Serbia in 2012 to serve as the G League head coach of the Oklahoma City Thunder, Rajakovic later advanced to the Thunder’s bench before taking on assistant coaching roles with the Phoenix Suns and the Memphis Grizzlies. He then climbed the ranks to become the top assistant of Grizzlies’ head coach Taylor Jenkins.
It is believed that Rajakovic engaged in a grueling process of convincing Raptors president Masai Ujiri and general manager Bobby Webster why he is an appropriate hire for the head coaching role. According to the Raptors’ leadership, the team was in search of a versatile coach with the ability to mold a competitive team based on its existing roster of veterans while also nurturing young talent.
