The Toronto Raptors enter the 2026-27 NBA season shrouded in massive expectations, and head coach Darko Rajakovic finds himself right in the spotlight. After engineering an incredible turnaround last season—surging from a 30-52 record to capture the fifth-best seed in the Eastern Conference with a 16-win improvement—Rajakovic earned quiet recognition across the league, even receiving a vote in the Coach of the Year ballot.
Now, heading into the upcoming campaign, expectations have skyrocketed. Respected analysts like Zach Lowe and Howard Beck have already pegged Rajakovic as an early favorite for Coach of the Year on The Zach Lowe Show. However, as Lowe pointed out during the episode, securing the prestigious award comes with a unique and complicated obstacle: the arrival of superstar Kawhi Leonard.
The Superteam Dilemma: Who Gets the Credit?
When a franchise makes a blockbuster splash to bring in a transcendent, former Finals MVP like Leonard, the narrative surrounding the team’s success instantly shifts. If the Raptors soar up the standings and contend at the top of the East, voters are often quick to attribute that monumental leap to elite roster talent rather than coaching mastery.
As Lowe noted:
“Here’s what he has going against him: If the Raptors exceed expectations, how much of the credit is given to Kawhi Leonard as the new addition?”
This “superstar tax” has historically plagued coaches of elite teams, where voters prefer to reward tacticians who overachieve with underdog rosters rather than those managing established stars.
On the flip side, because Toronto flew largely under the radar last year, a 52-win season this time around would still turn heads. If Rajakovic successfully integrates Leonard alongside franchise cornerstone Scottie Barnes and maximizes young talents like Collin Murray-Boyles, Ja’Kobe Walter, and Jamal Shead, the collective narrative might just swing back in his favor.
A Franchise-Wide Bet on Growth
The Raptors front office showed immense belief in their leadership loop this summer by signing Rajakovic to a multi-year contract extension in July. But the pressure is real.
Rajakovic isn’t just tasked with managing Leonard’s workload and health; he must also:
- Seamlessly mesh the Leonard-Barnes superstar pairing into a cohesive offensive engine.
- Navigate potential frontcourt hurdles and minutes distribution regarding center Jakob Poeltl.
- Accelerate the developmental timeline of high-upside youngsters like Murray-Boyles.
Beyond the Coach: A Trophy-Contending Roster
Rajakovic isn’t the only member of the organization turning heads ahead of opening night. The Raptors boast several legitimate candidates for major league hardware:
- Collin Murray-Boyles (Sixth Man of the Year): Expected to anchor the second unit behind Poeltl while closing games, his elite two-way production makes him a strong dark horse for bench player honors.
- Scottie Barnes (Defensive Player of the Year): While Victor Wembanyama remains the heavy favorite for the award, Barnes’s elite versatility on the perimeter and interior could propel him into the conversation if Toronto emerges as a top defensive unit.
Ultimately, whether Darko Rajakovic takes home Coach of the Year will depend on how cleanly he can pilot Toronto’s new era. If the Raptors turn their three-year title window into reality, the basketball world will have no choice but to give the mastermind on the sidelines his due credit.
