The Raptors will have a new head coach and a new-look coaching staff for the 2023/24 NBA season. After parting ways with Nick Nurse in April and hiring Darko Rajakovic in June, the team issued a press release on Tuesday announcing what Rajakovic’s staff will look like.
“This coaching staff reflects the team we want to see on the court – high character, high energy, and high creativity,” Rajakovic said in a statement. “We’ve already begun the work we know needs to be done as we head into our first season in Toronto together. We’re excited by the talent, by our team’s potential, and by the job ahead.”
Here are the Raptors’ assistants under Rajakovic for ’23/24, including several names that were previously reported:
Front of the bench:
- Pat Delany, an experienced NBA assistant who has worked for Charlotte, Orlando, and – most recently – the Wizards.
- Jama Mahlalela, who is returning to Toronto after spending eight seasons with the Raptors from 2013-21 (six as an assistant and two as the Raptors 905 head coach). He was an assistant with the Warriors from 2021-23.
- James Wade, who has spent the last five seasons in the WNBA as the general manager and head coach of the Chicago Sky. He was previously an assistant under Gregg Popovich in San Antonio from 2012-16.
Second row:
- Mike Batiste, a former assistant with the Hornets, the Magic, and – this past season – the Rockets. He has also held player development roles with the Nets and Wizards.
- Vin Bhavnani, a longtime member of the Thunder organization who was an assistant coach for the last four seasons after serving as the manager of advance scouting/player development for five years.
- Drew Jones, who was most recently a Pistons assistant from 2021-23.
- Jim Sann, who has been with the Raptors as an assistant coach since 2016/17, serving under both Dwane Casey and Nurse.
- Ivo Simovic, an experienced assistant at the NCAA level. He was on UCLA’s staff last season.
The Raptors have also hired Noah Lewis and Rashaun Broadus as assistant video coordinators/player development coaches, per today’s announcement.
Just my opinions
Offseason top 3 losers (teams will be a lot of worse this year or next 3 years)
Raptors
Rockets
76ers
top 3 Winners
VanVleet
Dillon Brooks
Irving
So people didn’t think the Raptors were a winner with the roster they had last couple years (led by FVV) but they are a “loser” because they didn’t pay FVV 43 million per? Good logic.
They’re losers because they haven’t picked a direction
You forgot your name on the top list
what ever happened to Earl Watson? no mention of him still being on staff. was he let go? or are these just new staff members?
Absolutely terrible coaching staff
In addition to the 8 Assistant Coaches listed above, the Raptors will soon be extendin contract offers to an additional, as yet unnamed, SEVEN Assistant Coaches so that every player on the team’s 15 man roster will have their own Assistant Coach!
Mike Batiste, was also an NBA player in the early 2000s (2003-04),an undersized rugged PF with low post scoring skills, who was a star in the Euroleague for many years. One of the top northamerican players in Europe and in Europe in general, during that time.
I remember he played for the Memphis Grizzlies.