The Toronto Raptors have solidified their commitment to head coach Darko Rajakovic by picking up the team option for his contract for the 2026/27 season, ensuring he will be with the organization for at least two more years.
This move signals the Raptors’ belief in Rajakovic’s ability to lead the team back to prominence. Players on the roster are fully behind their coach and believe he is the right person to help guide the franchise forward.
Jakob Poeltl, one of the team’s key players, spoke highly of the head coach’s work ethic and coaching style when discussing the coach’s impact on the team in an interview with Josh Lewenberg of TSN.
“I think his work ethic is incredible and his passion for the sport and for us as a team, for getting us better, it really shows,” Poeltl shared.
He emphasized how Rajakovic’s dedication to both the game and the players is evident in everything he does, from practice sessions to in-game decisions.
Poeltl went on to praise the Raptors’ bench boss’s approach to coaching, noting that the coach’s clear vision and attention to detail are key factors in the team’s development.
“You can tell in practice and games, he’s really adamant about what he wants stuff to look like and I think he has a very clear vision,” Toronto’s key rim protector said.
He also commended the Raptors strategist’s basketball IQ, pointing out his strong understanding of modern basketball and how well he’s adapted to the game’s evolving nature.
“He’s smart and I think he understands modern basketball really well,” Poeltl added.
Overall, the Austrian big man and other players believe that Rajakovic’s leadership has already begun to pay off, with positive results beginning to show on the court.
“He’s been great for us and it’s been showing,” Poeltl concluded, reinforcing the belief that Rajakovic is a key factor in the Raptors’ ongoing development.
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— Hoops Rumors (@HoopsRumors) April 6, 2025
