After achieving a 16-win increase en route to a playoff appearance, the Serbian head coach is here to stay.
The 2026 offseason was known to be a pivotal one for the future landscape of the NBA. For the Toronto Raptors in particular, it was essential for general manager Bobby Webster to find a way to boost his franchise from a fringe playoff team to a championship contender.
With more moves yet to be made in free agency, the Raptors are off to a hot start. After trading for two-time All-Star Brandon Ingram at the midseason deadline in 2025, Webster was able to flip him into two-time Finals MVP Kawhi Leonard.
While there is still more to do in terms of finalizing the roster, head coach Darko Rajakovic should have all the tools necessary to take another leap after last season. The team was able to make it to the playoffs for the first time since 2022, but ultimately fell short in seven games to the Cleveland Cavaliers in the first round. Now with a certified superstar alongside Scottie Barnes, the franchise will be looked at as a disappointment if it doesn't win a playoff series next season, marking the first time since the bubble in 2020.
After such a substantial improvement of the last three seasons, the Raptors announced great news for their Serbian head coach this morning.
The Raptors officially announced the multi-year extension for Rajakovic to remain in Toronto. The specific financial details have not been shared to the public, but the most surefire move for the Raptors heading into this offseason has now been completed.
Of the three years Rajakovic has been with the franchise, last season was the most definite when proving his worth. They experienced a 16-win increase, and showed that when they weren't playing against the league’s top teams, they could absolutely dominate on both ends of the floor.
Known for his player development, last season was an exceptional representation of this as well. Barnes took a leap from a fringe All-Star player to a certified superstar while players like Ja’Kobe Walter and Collin Murray-Boyles went from typical role players to key playoff contributors.
Next season will be Rajakovic's biggest task, though. He has been the leader of a team with immense chemistry and full of youth, but now he will have to deal with the expectation of striving for a championship. Settling for less won't be tolerated for long with an aging Leonard potentially playing on a max contract.
There is still a lot to learn about the 47-year-old head coach. His fiery competitive spirit cannot be questioned or understated, but he is unproven when it comes to managing top-tier players with nothing left to prove like Leonard. It would be unreasonable to think that the seven time All-Star could put a damper on the team, but it will still be vital for Rajakovic to be able to manage all of the different personalities and skill sets to achieve Toronto's second NBA championship.
