Toronto Raptors head coach Darko Rajakovic is preparing for the 2024-25 season. It’s one in which his Raptors are not expected to do much winning, but could build towards a great future behind players like Scottie Barnes and Immanuel Quickley. In the meantime, though, Rajakovic got a chance to watch his home nation of Serbia in the 2024 Olympics in Paris.
The Serbian national team was led by NBA superstar Nikola Jokic, but also had some other great talent like Bogdan Bogdanovic. Rajakovic has some experience with the Atlanta Hawks guard, as the two worked together to represent Serbia at the 2019 FIBA World Cup, when Serbia finished in fifth place.
In that time, and in the years watching Bogdanovic in the NBA since, he has grown an appreciation for what the 32-year-old guard does on and off the court, via the Luka and Kuzma Podcast in Serbia:
“His commitment to basketball is really incredible. He pays a lot of attention to his diet and takes very good care of his body. He is getting better physically every season. … I think he can play in the NBA for another six to seven years without any problems. I have a hard time preparing for the games we will play against him. He always has a smile on his face and he enjoys playing basketball very much. I am a fan of his.”
Bogdanovic has only been in the NBA since the 2017-18 season. However, he played five seasons professionally in Europe and did not make it to the NBA until he was 25. This is why despite entering just his eighth season, he is already 32.
But Rajakovic believes that he could play until almost 40 given the way that he takes care of himself. And while, typically, the NBA frowns upon coaches and executives talking about another team’s player, perhaps they’ll let this one slide given the context and what was said.
Darko Rajakovic has vision for 2024-25 season
Toronto Raptors head coach Darko Rajakovic is ready to hit the reset button. Rajakovic aims to rebuild and reenergize the team for the 2024-25 season following a challenging season. With an optimistic lens, he plans to leverage the lessons from the past year to guide the Raptors toward a successful comeback.
Rajakovic’s vision for the 2024-25 Raptors is a blend of optimism and practicality. By addressing past shortcomings and building on lessons learned, he plans to guide the team to new heights. His focus on resilience, tactical skills and fan engagement lays a strong foundation for future success.
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