{"id":330437,"date":"2026-05-07T01:27:11","date_gmt":"2026-05-06T19:57:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ebiztoday.news\/?p=330437"},"modified":"2026-05-07T01:27:11","modified_gmt":"2026-05-06T19:57:11","slug":"rajakovic-already-waiting-for-next-season","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ebiztoday.news\/index.php\/2026\/05\/07\/rajakovic-already-waiting-for-next-season\/","title":{"rendered":"Rajakovic already waiting for next season"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><\/p>\n<div id=\"\">\n<p>TORONTO \u2013 So far as Darko Rajakovic is worried, there is no such thing as a off-season.<\/p>\n<p>Rajakovic had his year-end news conference Tuesday morning at OVO Athletic Centre, the Raptors\u2019 dedicated training facility. Toronto\u2019s head coach said he had already sketched out his players\u2019 development plans for the summer well before the Raptors were eliminated from the NBA playoffs by the Cleveland Cavaliers.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI have already got 40, 50 per cent of my first team meeting ready for next yr,\u201d said Rajakovic firstly of his news conference. \u201cProbably like two, three months ago, I began already planning the summer, planning the subsequent season, starting making a bunch of notes.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThat\u2019s an ongoing process. That never stops.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Rajakovic was named Toronto\u2019s tenth head coach in June 2023 with a mandate to develop the team\u2019s young core of players built around 2022 rookie of the yr Scottie Barnes.<\/p>\n<div class=\"c-ad c-ad--bigbox l-article__ad c-ad--tallSticky\">\n<p>Story continues below commercial<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>The Raptors picked up the team option on Rajakovic\u2019s contract in March 2025, keeping him locked up through the 2026-27 season.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt really never stops,\u201d said Rajakovic on his work to develop his players\u2019 skills. \u201cIt\u2019s continuously finding ways learn how to improve, learn how to recuperate, learn how to help players, learn how to stay of their corner.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThat\u2019s a process that\u2019s underway now.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Although his emphasis has at all times been on helping young players like Barnes, RJ Barrett, Jamal Shead, Ja\u2019Kobe Walter and Collin Murray-Boyles improve, Toronto took a step forward within the 2025-26 campaign.<\/p>\n<div class=\"l-article__part\" data-shortcode=\"related_videos\">\n<div class=\"l-inlineStories l-inlineStories--video\">\n<p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"l-inlineStories__title\">Related Videos<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<section id=\"miniplayer-carousel\" class=\"l-videoCarousel l-videoCarousel--embed c-carousel\" data-video-carousel-play-inline=\"true\" data-video-carousel-init=\"false\" aria-label=\"Video carousel contains 10 videos.\">\n<div class=\"l-videoCarousel__inner\">\n<div class=\"l-videoCarousel__featured\">\n<div class=\"c-video c-videoPlay \" data-iframe-receiver=\"\" data-autoplay=\"\" data-displayinline-featured=\"true\" data-displayinline-type=\"video\" data-displayinline-player-id=\"miniplayer\" data-displayinline-video-id=\"11825789\" data-displayinline-ratio=\"16:9\" data-displayinline=\"https:\/\/globalnews.ca\/video\/embed\/playlist\/11825789,11811263,11806034,11736470,11520120,11519608,11499192,11272226,11267415,11265148\/?poster=https%3A%2F%2Fi0.wp.com%2Fmedia.globalnews.ca%2Fvideostatic%2Fnews%2Fwv28i7p5ns-6q7q8t8jh8%2FONLINEGNMFRIDANBERLINSTILL.jpg%3Fw%3D1200%26quality%3D70%26strip%3Dall#autoplay&#038;stickyiframe=miniplayer\" data-displayinline-playlist=\"11825789,11811263,11806034,11736470,11520120,11519608,11499192,11272226,11267415,11265148\" data-displayinline-sticky=\"true\" data-permutive-data='{\"content\":{\"name\":\"Canadian teams continue battling through the playoffs\",\"type\":\"video\",\"sections\":[\"videos\",\"toronto\",\"sports\"],\"keywords\":[\"canadian-sports\",\"connor-mcdavid\",\"dan-berlin\",\"edmonton-oilers\",\"global-news-morning\",\"montreal-canadiens\",\"nba\",\"nhl\",\"playoffs\",\"scotty-barnes\",\"short-clip\",\"toronto-raptors\",\"global-news-morning-toronto\"],\"iab\":{\"categories\":[\"Sports\/Team Sports\/Basketball\",\"Sports\",\"Sports\/Team Sports\"],\"tags\":[\"Ball\",\"Basketball\",\"Bobby Webster\",\"Cleveland\",\"Cleveland Cavaliers\",\"Collin Murray-Boyles\",\"Darko Rajakoviu0107\",\"Eastern Conference (NBA)\",\"Head coach\",\"Jamal Shead\",\"Kobe Bryant\",\"Mirror\",\"National Basketball Association\",\"NBA playoffs\",\"News\",\"OVO Athletic Centre\",\"Paint\",\"Pick and roll\",\"Playoffs\",\"RJ Barrett\",\"Scottie Barnes\",\"Seed\",\"The Canadian Press\",\"Toronto\",\"Toronto Raptors\"]}}}'>\n<div class=\"c-video__inner \">\n\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"c-video__placeholder\"><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"c-video__image\" alt=\"Click to play video: 'Canadian teams continue battling through the playoffs'\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/media.globalnews.ca\/videostatic\/news\/wv28i7p5ns-6q7q8t8jh8\/ONLINEGNMFRIDANBERLINSTILL.jpg?w=1040&#038;quality=70&#038;strip=all\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"\" sizes=\"auto, \" data-sizes=\"(min-width: 1040px) 1040px,(min-width: 720px) 720px,450px\"><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"c-video__overlay\"><\/p>\n<p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<time class=\"c-video__duration\">5:19<\/time><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"c-video__title\">Canadian teams proceed battling through the playoffs<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"l-videoCarousel__glide glide \">\n<div class=\"glide__arrows c-carousel__buttons l-videoCarousel__buttons\" data-glide-el=\"controls\">\n\t<button class=\"glide__arrow glide__arrow--left c-carousel__button c-carousel__prev l-videoCarousel__button l-videoCarousel__prev c-longform-gallery__prev\" data-glide-dir=\"<\"><\/p>\n<p>\t\t<span class=\"sr-only\">Previous Video<\/span><br \/>\n\t<\/button><br \/>\n\t<button class=\"glide__arrow glide__arrow--right c-carousel__button c-carousel__next l-videoCarousel__button l-videoCarousel__next c-longform-gallery__next\" data-glide-dir=\">&#8220;><\/p>\n<p>\t\t<span class=\"sr-only\">Next Video<\/span><br \/>\n\t<\/button><br \/>\n\t\t<button class=\"c-carousel__goto\" data-glide-dir=\"=0\" aria-hidden=\"true\" tabindex=\"-1\"><\/button>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>\t\t<!-- video stream item --><\/p>\n<\/section><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>The Raptors had a 46-36 record within the regular season, improving Rajakovic\u2019s profession record as a head coach within the NBA to 101-145, all with Toronto. They were the fifth seed within the Eastern Conference, pushing the fourth-seed Cleveland Cavaliers to seven games in the primary round of the playoffs.<\/p>\n<div class=\"c-ad c-ad--bigbox l-article__ad c-ad--tallSticky\">\n<p>Story continues below commercial<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>After Toronto\u2019s Game 7 loss on Sunday, Rajakovic called the season \u201can absolute success\u201d but had a brief list of things he desired to see his team improve.<\/p>\n<div class=\"c-inlineSignup\" data-newsletter-inline=\"\">\n<div class=\"c-inlineSignup__image\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"170\" height=\"225\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/globalnews.ca\/wp-content\/themes\/shaw-globalnews\/images\/skyline\/national.jpg\" alt=\"Get daily Canada news delivered to your inbox so you'll never miss the day's top stories.\">\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<div class=\"c-inlineSignup__content\">\n<h2 class=\"c-inlineSignup__title\">Get every day National news<\/h2>\n<p>Get every day Canada news delivered to your inbox so you will never miss the day&#8217;s top stories.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>\u201cI believe we did a great job this yr with defence and the best way we\u2019re guarding the ball but I believe us having more paint protection is something that we are able to take a take a look at,\u201d said Rajakovic. \u201cI believe continuing to develop the offensive side of the ball with individual improvement of players, of their shooting, goes to be very, very vital for us.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Toronto\u2019s playoff run was also a private triumph for Rajakovic as he became the primary non-American coach to achieve the league\u2019s playoffs after leading a team for a complete season.<\/p>\n<p>Rajakovic said he learned lots concerning the difference between the regular season and playoffs.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt\u2019s not about complicated plays. It\u2019s about making easy plays. It\u2019s about execution of those easy plays,\u201d said Rajakovic. \u201cShould you take a look at a straightforward play of pick-and-roll, if it\u2019s a guard-guard pick and roll, ensuring it\u2019s a great setup, ensuring you&#8217;re coming alone to set a screen so you&#8217;ll be able to create a bonus.<\/p>\n<div class=\"c-tabs\">\n<p>\n\t\t\t<button role=\"tab\" class=\"c-tabs__tab c-tabs__tab--active\" type=\"button\">More on Sports<\/button><br \/>\n\t\t\t<button role=\"tab\" class=\"c-tabs__tab\" type=\"button\">More videos<\/button>\n\t\t<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>\u201cThere&#8217;s going to be physicality. It\u2019s not going to be easy to create those gaps and benefits. It\u2019s really working on the basics of the sport.\u201d<\/p>\n<div class=\"c-ad c-ad--bigbox l-article__ad c-ad--tallSticky\">\n<p>Story continues below commercial<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>Rajakovic said that all-star forward Brandon Ingram will see a specialist about his right-heel inflammation later this week. Point guard Immanuel Quickley goes to miss a few weeks as he recovers from his right hamstring strain.<\/p>\n<p>Each are expected to be ready for next season.<\/p>\n<p>Rajakovic said he\u2019ll even be looking within the mirror over the summer.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI actually need to proceed my development on mental performance,\u201d said Rajakovic, adding that he works with mental performance coach Brian Cain. \u201cThat\u2019s going to be one thing that I\u2019m going to essentially give attention to continuing, growing in that area this yr, and it\u2019s at all times continuing to search out more answers to be one per cent higher.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cHow we are able to recuperate offensively and defensively? The whole lot really revolves around how will we help our players. How can I be a greater leader for them? How can I help them to be more productive on the court?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Raptors general manager Bobby Webster, who&#8217;s the pinnacle of the team\u2019s basketball operations, will speak with the media in his own news conference on Wednesday afternoon.<\/p>\n<p>This can be a corrected story. An earlier version had the unsuitable yr Scottie Barnes won rookie of the yr.<\/p>\n<p>This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 5, 2026.<\/p>\n<div class=\"c-ad c-ad--bigbox l-article__ad c-ad--tallSticky\">\n<p>Story continues below commercial<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>Note to readers:This can be a corrected story. An earlier version had the unsuitable yr Scottie Barnes won rookie of the yr.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div>\n<p>\n\t\t&#038;copy 2026 The Canadian Press\t<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>TORONTO \u2013 So far as Darko Rajakovic is worried, there is no such thing as a off-season. Rajakovic had his year-end news conference Tuesday morning at OVO Athletic Centre, the Raptors\u2019 dedicated training facility. Toronto\u2019s head coach said he had already sketched out his players\u2019 development plans for the summer well before the Raptors were [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":330438,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[338],"tags":[1127,47854,726],"class_list":["post-330437","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-sports","tag-ahead","tag-rajakovic","tag-season"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/ebiztoday.news\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/330437","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/ebiztoday.news\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/ebiztoday.news\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ebiztoday.news\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ebiztoday.news\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=330437"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/ebiztoday.news\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/330437\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":330440,"href":"https:\/\/ebiztoday.news\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/330437\/revisions\/330440"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ebiztoday.news\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/330438"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/ebiztoday.news\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=330437"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ebiztoday.news\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=330437"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ebiztoday.news\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=330437"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}