The Toronto Raptors had it all last night. A broad margin loss, criticism from all the side, and their head coach, Darko Rajakovic being ejected. It might be a bit difficult to explain in the NBA terms, but those of who know what Bodacious means, Darko was something similar during the game.
The Raptors experienced a dramatic ejection during the team’s recent loss to the Memphis Grizzlies. With the Raptors struggling and trailing 125-103 in the fourth quarter, Rajakovic lost his composure after a controversial no-call from the referees. His reaction bordered on chaos as he vehemently berated the officials. Ultimately, his passionate outburst led to two quick technical fouls, resulting in his ejection from the game, which the Raptors went on to lose 155-126.
The situation unfolded in front of an entertained FedExForum crowd, many of whom likely reveled in the irony of Rajakovic’s outburst. Even after the ejection, the Raptors’ misfortunes continued as Luke Kennard cashed out the technical fouls, hitting two additional free throws. With this loss, the Raptors now find themselves at 7-24. They are just 1.5 games ahead of the Washington Wizards for the worst record in the Eastern Conference.
Darko Rajakovic was NOT happy with a non-call on a Scottie Barnes drive.
— Esfandiar Baraheni (@JustEsBaraheni) December 27, 2024
A lot of Serbian cuss words as he gets ejected (I assume) pic.twitter.com/UByberCIuL
Raptors assistant coach Pat Delany later spoke about the need to hold the team to a higher standard. He suggested that Rajakovic’s passionate response was an attempt to protect his players during a difficult stretch. Rajakovic received his first ejection in his coaching career, but he had previously criticized officials and was fined $25,000 for it.
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Darko Rajakovic Is Optimistic About Raptors’ Bond
The Raptors are not going in a good direction by any means. But head coach Darko Rajakovic is still radiating optimism about the tight-knit group he’s guiding. With recent trades sending veterans O.G. Anunoby and Pascal Siakam away, the team is embracing a fresh persona. Scottie Barnes has stepped into the spotlight as the franchise’s new face lately.
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“This team is connected, this team has very high empathy and love for each other and they are really cheering for each other. In each game and practice, they’re going a really good job of communicating with each other…that’s a testament for teams that are very connected. I do believe that’s going to translate into the games as well,” Darko said.
Darko Rajakovic explains Scottie Barnes struggles against the Rockets.
— Pensare Basketball (@PensareBBall) December 23, 2024
It's funny. In a league where guys load manage a broken finger nail, you have a warrior trying to go out there and help his team compete.
In both games, he's moved gingerly, not been himself, and looked… pic.twitter.com/JAhA19iHPx
Rajakovic expressed his impression of the healthy bond among players and noted their genuine empathy and support for one another. He believes that the strong communication and connection they’ve built during practices will be key as they take the court together. And that will set a solid foundation for growth in what promises to be an exciting chapter for the franchise.
Although with the positive approach of their head coach, Toronto will be looking to bounce back.
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