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Will join Eastern Conference reserve selection Scottie Barnes in Los Angeles for the Feb. 15 game as head coach of the World Team.
Published Feb 03, 2026 • 4 minute read
Toronto Raptors head coach Darko Rajakovic reacts during a gameagainst the Sacramento Kings last month.
Toronto Raptors head coach Darko Rajakovic reacts during a gameagainst the Sacramento Kings last month. AP Photo
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The Toronto Raptors will be getting more representation at NBA all-star weekend after all.
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Head coach Darko Rajakovic will join reserve selection Scottie Barnes in Los Angeles for the Feb. 15 game in Inglewood, Calif., as head coach of the World Team, with NBA commissioner Adam Silver making the call on Tuesday.
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“It is an amazing honour to represent Serbia, to represent Canada, to represent the whole world at the all-star game, and really excited to get there together with the guys, and to be part of the great spectacle,” Rajakovic said after a team practice in Toronto on Tuesday.
Rajakovic, in his third year in charge, has led the Raptors to a 30-21 record, already matching its 2024-25 win total.
He said part of the thrill will be getting a chance to coach some of the NBA’s premier players, including his friend and countryman Nikola Jokic, as well as Canadian superstar Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
“All of those guys, obviously the best of the best and it’s going to be a lot of fun to see all of those international guys being on the same team. There’s going to be three or four guys that speak my language, so it’s gonna be pretty fun. Nikola Jokic, he’s celebrating his birthday around that time as well, so we’ll have a good time,” he said.
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What did Raptors players say?
Raptors players were excited for Rajakovic.
“He deserves it. He’s an amazing coach,” Sandro Mamukelashvili said. “First of all, he’s an amazing person, just seeing how he communicates with us, his family, his kids, just definitely something I’m trying to learn from. But on the court, he’s amazing.
“He gets the best out of every player and kind of understands the mental part, and always, always helps everybody. So it’s a big accomplishment. I’m definitely rooting for (Team) World.”
Mamukelashvili added that Rajakovic “knows the balance (of mixing intensity and calmness), but he also kind of puts the pressure on at the same time.”
Point guard Jamal Shead said Rajakovic tried to keep the news low-key at practice.
“He was trying to hide it. He’s giving out everybody else’s little awards, you know, all-star rising stars, and coach Jama (Mahlalela) had to stop him and shout him out, and we all kind of cheered for him. So I think it’s a really big accomplishment for him and a really big accomplishment for our team,” Shead said.
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Rajakovic’s long journey to Toronto
It has been a long journey for Rajakovic, who started coaching in Serbia as a teenager and later co-wrote a paper on the pick-and-roll with now-Atlanta Hawks head coach Quin Synder.
He has spent NBA time with the San Antonio Spurs organization, the Oklahoma City Thunder (where he made his first trip to all-star as part of the staff), Phoenix Suns and Memphis Grizzlies.
He was named the 10th Raptors coach in June of 2023, replacing Nick Nurse.
Nick Nurse and predecessor Dwane Casey are the only other Raptors head coaches who have represented the franchise at all-star weekend.
Mamukelashvili on Rajakovic as a coach
HOW HAS DARKO HELPED YOU GET BETTER?
Just allowing you to be you and just not think too much. Just play hard. Gives you freedom to decide on the court how you want to play. And only thing he asks from you is every day to bring 110% of intensity, work hard and just be coachable. But on the court, he just gives you that freedom, which is great for a player, because it just makes you be you, and it helps you, and also he has a very unselfish style of basketball, so it’s kind of built towards you.
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ARE YOU SURPRISED THERE’S NOT MORE EUROPEAN COACHES?
Very surprised. I think there are a lot of great European coaches, but I think NBA is different type of league. I think they’re great in Euroleague and they’re more hands on. I feel like it will be a little different here. And like all the coaches, have their own kind of, like ego, it will be hard to bring some coach who screams a lot, here, and tell them to calm down. I think it’s good that they’re in Euroleague.
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HOW IS DARKO LIKE AN AMERICAN COACH?
He can kind of turn it on and off. He can, like, get super, super mad. And kind of reminds me of that, like, you know, European coach Serbian coach I had on the (Georgian) national team like that too. So that’s the best thing, just being able to do best of both worlds, calm and disciplined in situations, but at the same time, he won’t let you, like, mess up over and over again, then you’re gonna show emotions. And that’s how you know, like, no, it’s time to lock in. You don’t want to be that guy who you have to repeat.
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