NBA fines Toronto Raptors head coach Darko Rajaković

Toronto Raptors head coach Darko Rajaković will be fined $25,000 for comments made public last January 9 regarding officiating after the narrow loss to the Los Angeles Lakers at Crypto.com Arena, 132-131.
Announced this is Joe Dumars, Executive Vice President and Head of Basketball Operations for the league.

This incident highlights the intent of the NBA to maintain professionalism in what a coach says or does about officiating, as they want to avoid public condemnation of referees.
This is an added penalty for $25,000 in reminding a coach and his team that the league has its laiddown rules and they have to maintain decorum also while interacting with media and public when questions arise on certain officiating decisions.

Darko Rajaković’s Journey in Basketball

Darko Rajaković, the contemporary head coach of the Toronto Raptors, had quite an unconventional career in basketball. While most coaches were out playing professionally, Rajaković never stepped foot onto the court as a professional and began coaching and developing the next level at an astonishingly young age.

A Passion Ignited: Early Coaching Days (1979 – 1999)

Darko was born in 1979 in Čačak, Serbia. From his tender age, he made it very evident that this was the game for him to be involved in. However, for whatever reasons, his playing days had to be cut short. There is no doubt that was a lacuna he needed to cover, and hence began his coaching career. By 1996, at the tender age of 16 years old, Darko took up the challenge of coaching the youth system of Borac Čačak in his hometown. This was no mean task either. He was given the monumental task to coach small children, 7 and 8 years old, and instill love and some foundation for the game.

Darko proved himself to be a natural leader and earned the respect of his young players. His hard work and ability were sooner noticed by the well-known basketball club, Crvena zvezda, which was based in Belgrade, Serbia. When Darko was 20 years old, he was assigned as head coach to U20 and U18 teams in 1999, and that became a milestone that marked the start of a long and successful role with Crvena zvezda.

Building Champions: Success at Crvena zvezda (1999 – 2007)

Darko worked for the following eight years with complete dedication to work at Crvena zvezda. With a good coaching philosophy, he brought out remarkable results. Under his guidance as a coach, the team won two times Serbian Youth championships. His approach in the game was on teamwork, discipline, and individual maturation. It came easily to be understood by players and keeps them successful.

Seeking New Horizons: Expanding Basketball Knowledge (2003 – 2007)

However, while being successful at Crvena zvezda, Darko never stopped his strive for more knowledge about coaching and other opinions. He realized that one can always learn something new. In 2003, he took part in the learning process at the University of Arizona, from where he learned about the good coach’s philosophies and methods from the legendary coach Lute Olson. Such a learning experience was very enlightening and opened up his views on the game.

Impelled by an insatiable thirst for learning, Darko repeated the quest for knowledge in the year 2007. On his way to Duke University, he was luckier than ever to witness the vaunted coach Mike Krzyzewski, seeing first-hand how the master functions. All these exposures gave Darko a glimpse of other coaching philosophies, allowing him to fine-tune his thinking.

Beyond Serbia: Embracing New Challenges (2004 – 2012)

Darko was not only a coach in Serbia but also sought to expand his experience. In 2004, he received his degree in basketball coaching from the Belgrade Basketball Academy. He later gained further professional development by furthering his degree to a BA in sports management from Alfa BK University in 2006.

From 2004 to 2011, Darko was also scouting consultant and assistant coach with the San Antonio Spurs’ NBA Summer League. The experience was very important to Darko as it gave him critical experience playing against the professional game with some of the best coaches and seeing players at the peak. He moved to Spain and started coaching in 2009 with Espacio Torreldones in the Spanish EBA League, adding new experiences and challenges to his bag.

Planting Roots in the NBA (2012 – Present)

Darko traveled across the Atlantic as he took on the head coach role for the Tulsa 66ers, affiliate of the Oklahoma City Thunder in the NBA Development League, now renamed the NBA G League. This will be his first taste of the North American basketball scene. During his two years with the 66ers, he had a decent record and took the 66ers to the G League semifinals in 2013. He coached some of the future NBA talents, among them Reggie Jackson, Jeremy Lamb, and Andre Roberson, while with the 66ers, thus proving that he was well capable of developing up-and-coming stars.

What is Darko Rajaković’s nationality?

Darko Rajaković is Serbian.

• Born and raised: He was born in Čačak, Serbia on February 22, 1979. This means he was born and spent his formative years in Serbia.
• Basketball Journey: He started his successful coaching career at a young age in Serbia before moving on to other national and international opportunities.

What is Darko Rajaković’s coaching record?

Early Coaching Career:

• Tulsa 66ers (2012-2014): Darko started as a head coach in the NBA G League, leading the Tulsa 66ers for two seasons. He achieved a 51-49 record and even reached the playoffs in the 2012-13 season.

Assistant Coaching Roles:

• Oklahoma City Thunder (2014-2019): After his success with the 66ers, Darko moved on to become an assistant coach with the Oklahoma City Thunder. During his time there, the Thunder made the playoffs four years in a row, including a run to the Western Conference Finals in 2016.
• Phoenix Suns (2019-2020): He then joined the Phoenix Suns as an assistant coach for a year.
• Memphis Grizzlies (2020-2023): Darko spent three seasons as an assistant coach for the Memphis Grizzlies, helping them reach the playoffs all three years. He even served as the interim head coach for five games in 2022, leading the team to a 4-1 record, including a notable win against the Golden State Warriors.

Current Role:

• Toronto Raptors (2023-present): In June 2023, Darko became the head coach of the Toronto Raptors, marking a significant milestone in his career. He is currently in his first season as head coach and looking to establish himself in the NBA.

Sam

Sam, a dedicated blogger, has immersed himself in the world of content creation for the past five years. His journey reflects a profound passion for storytelling and insightful commentary. Beyond the digital realm, Sam is a devoted NBA enthusiast, seamlessly blending his love for sports with his writing pursuits.