Toronto Raptors coach makes championship declaration
Even after failing to make the postseason for consecutive years, Toronto Raptors head coach Darko Rajakovic has his sights set on the highest of honours in the NBA.
In his first two seasons as an NBA head coach, Rajakovic has racked up a record of 55 wins and 109 losses. After winning just 25 games a year ago, a slightly improved Raptors squad pushed the team to 30 games and 11th place in the Eastern Conference, one spot up from 12th a year prior.
“I think it was a good season for us. Year one of the rebuild. Now it’s time for the next chapter, and it’s time for us to take the next step,” Rajakovic told reporters today to start his end-of-season media availability.
Since winning the title in 2019, the Raptors have just two appearances in the NBA playoffs, winning one series in 2020 against a heavily-injured Brooklyn Nets squad.
Much like star player Scottie Barnes a day ago, Rajakovic is confident that the team can push for a return to the postseason next year.
“How do we get there? We get there by doubling down on our habits, doubling down on our on our hard work, doubling down on believing in our young players and young core and continue to developing our team,” Rajakovic added.
But simply getting to the playoffs isn’t enough for Rajakovic — he’s looking to win it all, repeatedly.
“When we win the championship, and we will win it one day here, that’s not the end goal, it’s going to be to do it again,” Rajakovic told reporters today. “We want to position the [the Raptors] to be a contender, to win championships for a stretch of 10 years.”
For long-time Toronto Raptors fans, the quote likely reminds them of the similar talk of team president Masai Ujiri, who has made “we will win in Toronto” a staple of his press conferences for years.
With the Raptors having to now wait until October before the games begin to count for them again, only time will tell if Rajakovic’s proclamations come true.