The Toronto Raptors are hiring Memphis Grizzlies assistant coach Darko Rajaković as their new head coach, Sportsnet can confirm.
ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski was first to report the news.
The Raptors had the final remaining coaching vacancy in the league after firing Nick Nurse following their play-in loss to the Chicago Bulls. Nurse has since been hired as coach of the Philadelphia 76ers.
Rajaković, a 44-year-old native of Serbia, came to North America in 2012 to be head coach of Tulsa in the G League after several years as a European-based scout for the San Antonio Spurs.
Since 2014, he has been an assistant coach in the NBA, with the Oklahoma City Thunder, Phoenix Suns and Grizzlies.
Rajaković was Grizzlies head coach Taylor Jenkins’ top assistant this season, when Memphis finished second in the West.
Wojnarowski said Golden State Warriors assistant Kenny Atkinson and Milwaukee Bucks assistant Charles Lee also were given strong consideration by the Raptors.
Spanish national team coach and former Raptors assistant Sergio Scariolo also received interest from the Raptors. He congratulated Rajaković on Twitter.
