The Toronto Raptors are one of the absolute surprises of the season under Darko Rajakovic . They've won 13 of their last 14 games and currently sit second in the East at 14–5, right behind the red-hot Detroit Pistons .
This is a team almost no one had in the Play-in conversation, let alone fighting for a playoff spot heading into the season. However, injuries around the league and a favorable schedule have helped the Canadian squad build a healthy early-season cushion.
And Rajakovic is a story of his own, with his non-typical Eastern European coaching style, he's bringing a fresh vibe to the league. Before reaching today's level, the Serbian coach spent nine years as an assistant with the Oklahoma City Thunder , Phoenix Suns and Memphis Grizzlies , with his longest stint being the five years in OKC between 2014 and 2019.
"Bro, he walked into the film room, and he instantly starts going at Russ. 'You got to get over this f—ng screen. This is unacceptable!' I'm like, 'Oh s—t. Who the f—k… Darko? Okay.' For a guy that's sitting on the back of the bench to be able to come in and go at one of your best players, I'm like cool," Kendrick Perkins said about his former coach.
"Darko gonna have them boys fired up. So when you think about how they play, if they get your a— down there in Toronto, they are establishing a dangerous place to play in," Perkins added.
We need to put into perspective who Russell Westbrook was at that time, one of the best players in the world and a guy breaking records almost every night. Add to that the fact that Russ wasn't exactly an easy personality, and, like every franchise star, carried a bit of ego with him.
However, none of that seemed to bother Rajakovic, as he came from a different basketball background. Everyone already knows Serbia is a basketball country, as Team USA has felt that firsthand more than once, but there's something special about Serbian basketball that stands shoulder to shoulder with the U.S. game.
Rajakovic was born in the city of Cacak, not one of Serbia's largest cities, but widely recognized as a "city of basketball", a kind of Serbian equivalent to Indiana . Cacak produces hard-working people who believe only in work and in what you build yourself. That's exactly what defined Darko throughout his career and ultimately led him to become just the third European-born head coach in NBA history.
We already mentioned that the Raptors have had one of the easier schedules in the league. According to ESPN data, they're currently tied for the 24th toughest schedule, alongside the Pistons, with teams like the Denver Nuggets and Oklahoma City Thunder trailing behind them.
But no matter how easy the schedule may look, we can't ignore the fact that Rajakovic has instilled a different mentality this season. These are games they would regularly lose in previous years. So what changed?
With a pace of 100.82, they're currently 11th in the league. Their 118.2 points per 100 possessions rank ninth offensively, while their 111.6 allowed per 100 possessions rank fourth defensively. That puts them fourth in the entire NBA in net rating at +6.6, right behind three contenders – Denver, Oklahoma and the Houston Rockets , who are the only double-digit leaders in that category.
Rajakovic bases his system on tough defense and fast transition, something his forwards, such as Scottie Barnes and RJ Barrett, allow him to maximize. They currently lead the league in fast-break points at 20.3 per game, which stems from elite ball pressure, as they force 16.4 turnovers per game, the sixth-best mark in the NBA, according to StatMuse .
As a product of the Serbian coaching school, Rajakovic also emphasizes team play, as evidenced by the fact that six Raptors players are averaging double-digit points, with none exceeding 22. Brandon Ingram , the only one who doesn't naturally fit Rajakovic's principles since he's more of a half-court player and a weaker defender, has still found his role as the team's leading scorer, while it's clear that Barnes thrives more as a secondary star rather than the primary one.
Toronto's deep rotation is also noticeable, similar to last year's finalists, Oklahoma and the Indiana Pacers , and that's all thanks to the Serbian coach, who has established order and identity within the team. So when awards season arrives, don't be surprised if we see two Serbians among the winners – Nikola Jokic as MVP and Darko as Coach of the Year.
This story was originally published by Basketball Network on Nov 28, 2025, where it first appeared in the Latest News section. Add Basketball Network as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
