Rajakovic inks multi-year extension with the Toronto Raptors

Toronto Raptors head coach Darko Rajakovic speaks to the media at a season end media availability in Toronto on Tuesday, May 5, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette

The Toronto Raptors have agreed to a multi-year contract extension with head coach Darko Rajakovic, the team announced Thursday.

Rajakovic led the Raptors to a 46-36 record this past season, improving the club by 16 wins and earning the fifth seed in the Eastern Conference.

Toronto pushed the Cleveland Cavaliers to seven games in the first round of the playoffs.

He has a 101-145 record over three seasons with Toronto.

“Darko’s strong development philosophy and commitment to a team-first culture shine through on a daily basis,” Raptors general manager and executive vice-president Bobby Webster said in a statement. 

“We’ve seen these qualities play out on the court -- our team plays hard, plays together, and fights until the end. Darko knows there’s more to be done, and we’re looking forward to seeing the continued growth of this team.”

Toronto Raptors head coach Darko Rajakovic gives instructions from the bench during the second half in Game 5 of a first-round NBA playoffs basketball series against the Cleveland Cavaliers, Wednesday, April 29, 2026, In Cleveland. (AP Photo/David Dermer)

Rajakovic finished 10th in NBA Coach of the Year voting and became the first European head coach to guide an NBA team through a full season and into the playoffs.

Terms of the extension were not disclosed.

“I’m proud of the progress we’ve made, but our team knows there is still a lot of work to do, and I am looking forward to continuing to build and win with the Raptors,” Rajakovic said in a release.

“We will keep growing, keep working together and stay committed to getting better every day as we reach for our goal of an NBA championship.”

That goal recently received a shot in the arm with Toronto re-acquiring superstar Kawhi Leonard in a reported trade with the Los Angeles Clippers.

Leonard was the leader of the Raptors team that won the 2018-19 NBA championship in his lone season with the club.

• Report: Raptors, Clippers agree to deal sending Leonard back to Toronto

His addition gives Rajakovic another elite defender to add to an already smothering roster featuring fellow all-star Scottie Barnes, promising sophomore Collin Murray-Boyles and tenacious guard Jamal Shead.

The Raptors hired Rajakovic on June 13, 2023, to replace Nick Nurse, who helped Toronto to the 2019 title but was fired after the Raptors’ loss to visiting Chicago in a play-in tournament game. Rajakovic was charged with re-creating Toronto’s team culture as the Raptors looked to decisively move on from their championship era.

Toronto Raptors forward Kawhi Leonard (2) dunks the ball over top of Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) during second half NBA Eastern Conference finals action in Toronto on Saturday, May 25, 2019. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Frank Gunn

Rajakovic’s first year coaching was filled with hurdles, including the Raptors front office rebuilding the team with major trades, a raft of injuries to players like all-star Scottie Barnes and the lifetime ban of backup centre Jontay Porter due to match manipulation.

Toronto stumbled to a 25-57 record in 2023-24, including a franchise-worst 15-game losing skid through March and into April.

Injuries continued to plague the Raptors into the 2024-25 season, with the team’s planned starting lineup not playing a single minute together until 35 games into the season. Toronto finished that campaign with a 30-52 record to finish 11th in the Eastern Conference.

Raptors team president Masai Ujiri was dismissed that off-season, with general manager Bobby Webster taking over as head of basketball operations.

Webster stuck with Rajakovic, and was rewarded with a return to winning basketball in 2025-26.

Rajakovic had previously coached in his native Serbia, Spain, as the head coach of the G-League’s Tulsa 66ers, and as an assistant for the Oklahoma City Thunder, Phoenix Suns and Memphis Grizzlies.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 2, 2026.