"It feels like just yesterday, I was looking at the Raptors' rough start to the 2025-26 season, where head coach Darko Rajakovic and his staff were undoubtedly on the hot seat if Toronto couldn't turn things around ASAP. Now here we are near the end of a near unblemished November for the Raptors, where they've compiled an 8-1 record to date. It's a complete 180-degree flip on those discussions, even if their level of competition has been considered "easy" in a sense."
"I touched upon this same subject a while back when Raptors reporter Es Baraheni mentioned Rajakovic's name as a pre-season prediction for Coach of the Year, describing his " clear path" to that status if the right circumstances fall into place for Toronto. Well, I think with the 15-game sample to date, it provides more than enough evidence to support those claims, and another NBA analyst, Zach Lowe, has weighed in on Rajakovic's growing case."
The Toronto Raptors shifted from an early-season slump to an 8-1 November run, reversing concerns about the coaching staff. Key players Scottie Barnes, Brandon Ingram, and RJ Barrett have provided major contributions, while role players like Ja'Kobe Walter and Gradey Dick have shown growth. Darko Rajakovic receives credit for the offensive system and team mentality driving the winning play. Some reservations remain about specific sets and schemes, but the 15-game sample strengthens the case for Coach of the Year consideration. External analysts and reporters have highlighted Rajakovic's clear path to COTY if the team sustains its performance.
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