Darko Rajakovic on Kawhi Leonard, Scottie Barnes and the Raptors’ championship ambitions

| Getty Images There is a common narrative that European coaches struggle in the NBA because of their demanding and emotional approach. That it is one of the biggest things holding them back because they want to put themselves at the center of attention, while the NBA is ultimately a players’ league. They are often viewed as too tactically focused and not focused enough on catering to the people who are under the brightest spotlight – the superstars who have done the most to make the game a global phenomenon. One coach who has managed to bridge the gap between the European and American approaches, preserving the essence of both and doing so successfully, is Darko Rajakovic. Highlights of his emotional exchanges with referees often make the rounds, but so do his moments with the media, such as when he called Scottie Barnes a future face of the league after what he described at the time as Barnes being treated unfairly. At the same time, Rajakovic is widely regarded around the league as a player’s coach, someone who knows how to connect with stars. Russell Westbrook is perhaps the best example back when both were in Oklahoma City. And since becoming the head coach of the Toronto Raptors, Rajakovic has shown that he can successfully balance those two sides of coaching — perhaps his greatest strength. However, the upcoming season will put him to a much bigger test and bring a different kind of pressure than he has faced previously. The reason is clear: the arrival of Kawhi Leonard has shifted the Raptors’ trajectory more firmly toward championship aspirations. FanDuel has Toronto with the sixth-lowest championship odds entering the 2026-27 NBA season. “We entered the rebuilding process two years ago, and in a relatively short period of time, we managed to make significant progress. The core of the team was made up of young players we drafted and developed within our system, and with a few additions from outside, we took another step last season, going from 30 wins to 46,” Rajakovic told SB Nation, explaining how this team was built. Along with all of those qualities, the Serbian coach is also known for his ability to develop young talent. Barnes is gradually approaching his full potential, while Collin Murray-Boyles has already begun showing that he can be a very valuable addition. “That progress came through building our culture, developing different habits and establishing the style of play we wanted. So we give a lot of credit to our young players, who took a big step forward last season. Our ambitions are now as high as they can be. We want to get the Toronto Raptors to a point where we can compete for championships, compete against the best teams in the league and try to achieve the best possible results. Everything we do is geared toward that. “That’s why we made the decision to make an important trade and bring in Kawhi Leonard. He’s a proven NBA champion who has already won a championship here, and that brings another level of seriousness and quality to our team. The ambitions remain as high as ever — to raise our level from game to game, compete with the best and see where that takes us. We expect this to be a good season for us.” Rajakovic also had a demanding summer. The Raptors emerged as a potential destination for Leonard before the situation became entangled in an investigation. That complicated Toronto’s preparations for the season, but ultimately, everything ended the way the organization had hoped. “We focused on what we could control. We did a great job with our young players, who worked extremely hard throughout the summer. We had certain expectations and wanted everything to work out in the best possible way for us and for Kawhi to come. Unfortunately, that process took 76 days before he finally arrived. It disrupted our plans a little bit when it came to integrating him with the team and having him around his teammates more during the summer. But it is what it is. Training camp has started, and we’re going to make the most of this time to prepare for the season,” Rajakovic said. Many have compared Leonard and Barnes. Both can defend multiple positions, neither is a natural-born scorer, and both have built up their offensive games through hard work. They appear to complement each other well, while also sharing several similarities in their games. “Kawhi’s arrival is going to have a really positive impact on Barnes, on the team in general, and on RJ Barrett, Quickley and all of our young players. We’re a very young team. Kawhi is 35 years old, he has a tremendous amount of experience, and I think all of our players have a great deal of respect for him and everything he has accomplished. “He has matured a lot, both as a person and as a player. He’s going to bring a great presence to the locker room, be a good leader and be able to help our players individually, but also our coaching staff and the team as a whole. If we didn’t believe that, we wouldn’t have brought him in. He’s going to have a really positive impact on our entire team, bringing a new level of seriousness and accountability. All of our players can benefit tremendously from having him here and from growing alongside him.” Early in his NBA career, Rajakovic was a scout for the San Antonio Spurs and was in attendance at the 2011 NBA Draft, when Leonard was selected 15th overall by the Texas franchise. He has therefore been familiar with Leonard’s abilities from the very beginning of his career. “Kawhi is a generational talent, a player who has left his mark on the NBA over the past 15 years. When he’s healthy and on the floor, he makes an enormous difference. I’m glad he came back home. The Toronto Raptors are his team and his home. We hope he plays here and finishes his career with this team, that one day his jersey will be retired and hanging in the rafters of our arena. He’s a player who has accomplished so much individually, and he also helped both the Toronto Raptors and the San Antonio Spurs win championships.” The Raptors will have a difficult path toward their ultimate goal. The Eastern Conference appears deeper than it has been in a long time, especially following LeBron James’ arrival in Philadelphia and several other major moves around the conference, as Rajakovic discussed. “The NBA has never been stronger. There’s a group of veterans led by LeBron James who are incredibly good players and can make a huge difference, while at the same time, there are a lot of young players bringing tremendous quality, and many of them are capable of playing at a high level from the moment they enter the NBA. So I think the level of talent across the entire league is extremely high. The Eastern Conference is incredibly strong with the trades and players coming over from the Western Conference. The Knicks won the championship last season, Philadelphia is very powerful, Boston has a great team, Detroit, Cleveland, us, Atlanta got better, Orlando got better… Miami with Giannis is there, too – I don’t want to forget anyone. There’s a group of young teams that are extremely talented – Chicago, Washington, Charlotte… The competition is fantastic, and this season is going to be one where nobody is going to tank, nobody is going to intentionally lose games. So it’s going to be an extremely competitive season, and I’m very excited about all of it. I can’t wait for the season to start,” Rajakovic told SB Nation.

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