LOS ANGELESDarko Rajakovic is made out of layers that keep peeling back.
Not only did we witness Mad Darko in all his wonderful rage on Tuesday night in Los Angeles, but we also gained some further insight into this trip’s California leg.
Although his concern for the players as individuals has always been evident, two recent remarks he made—one in San Francisco and the other during an off-day team bike ride in Santa Monica—really solidified it.
He wants his players to be well-rounded, well-rested individuals who take pleasure in each other’s company on Mondays and at the few team dinners he has organized while traveling.
He remarked, “Obviously, the reason we are all here is because we are so invested in and in love with this game, but we cannot let it consume us.” “Friends and family don’t see players the night before when they’re sitting by themselves in their hotel room; they only see them for those two hours and fifteen minutes during the game.
They require interaction with others, the support and assistance of their family, and their teammates. They must have a life outside of basketball, and in my opinion, that is the only way to genuinely enjoy the game of hoops when you have struck a healthy balance in your life.
Rajakovic displayed his improvement as a professional, along with a little personal development, when he accepted the Raptors vice president of player health and performance, Alex McKechnie,’s invitation to spend some time with Phil Jackson on Monday.
The NBA head coach in his first year couldn’t pass up the opportunity to learn.
The 44-year-old Rajakovic declared, “I’m a first-time NBA head coach after 27 years of coaching, and I see myself as a very young coach that has a lot of things to learn and improve on.”
“In this field of work, the instant you begin to claim to be an expert, you are facing difficulties. This industry has a never-ending learning curve.
When Rajakovic was hired, not many of us had any prior knowledge of him. Conversations with those who knew him revealed a sensible and well-rounded individual. It’s becoming clear that this is not the whole story.
He clearly possesses some in-game coaching skills based on how he controls rotations and the fact that the Raptors consistently seem to have a strong chance after timeouts. But so much of teaching pro sports these days has to do with handling people. He’s doing a fantastic job in that regard.
There’s a sense of freshness in the locker room and on the court because the players enjoy him and respond to his positivity.
Barnes answers
Rajakovic also mentioned Scottie Barnes as an example of a star player who doesn’t get the calls he deserves during that go-viral Tuesday tirade.
“We have star players on our team as well, and I understand respect for all-stars and all that,” he remarked. “How is it possible that Scottie Barnes, an all-star player in this league, attempts to reach the rim every single time with force, not attempting to draw fouls, yet only manages to get two free throws during the entire game? How could that be true? In what way will you explain that to me?
“The Lakers needed to win tonight, right? If that’s the case, please inform us so that we may just give them the win and skip the game. This is not the first time that this has happened to us, so that wasn’t fair tonight. This league will see Scottie Barnes as its face and an all-star, and everything that goes on here for the entire season is just garbage.
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