The Toronto Raptors are still in the middle of a rebuild, and it looks like head coach Darko Rajakovic will continue to be part of the process in the coming years.
According to Sportsnet’s Michael Grange, the Raptors have decided to pick up the 2026-27 option of Rajakovic as the team’s head coach. The decision was reportedly made just before Sunday’s Toronto game versus the Philadelphia 76ers.
The 46-year-old Rajakovic is in his second season calling the shots for the Raptors from the sidelines. He succeeded former Raptors coach and current Sixers mentor Nick Nurse.
The Toronto Raptors will continue to be coached by Darko Rajakovic
In Rajakovic’s first season as the Raptors head coach, Toronto went just 25-57 in the 2023-24 NBA campaign. The team have improved on that record already with several games left on their schedule this season, as the Raptors are 28-47 following the 127-109 win over the 76ers.
Before being hired by the Raptors in 2023, Rajakovic served as as assistant coach for the Oklahoma City Thunder, the Phoenix Suns and the Memphis Grizzlies.
Expectations were not high for the Raptors when Rajakovic took over as the team’s head coach, considering Toronto’s rebuild program that saw the likes of OG Anunoby and Pascal Siakam traded to the New York Knicks and the Indiana Pacers, respectively.
That being said, Rajakovic has the Raptors still mathematically in contention for a spot in the 2025 Play-in Tournament. Toronto is 5.5 games outside of the last Play-in Tournament spot in the East, albeit with just even games left on the team’s regular-season schedule.
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