Darko Rajakovic may not be known for frequent outbursts, but when he does erupt, he certainly makes sure it leaves an impression. His most recent flare-up came Thursday night during the Toronto Raptors’ matchup against the Memphis Grizzlies—a game in which tensions reached a boiling point late in the fourth quarter.
Rajakovic’s frustration began simmering after a missed foul call on a Scottie Barnes drive. Instead of putting points on the board, the Raptors saw the Grizzlies convert on the other end.
Already trailing by a significant margin, Rajakovic visibly seethed on the sideline before calling a timeout to voice his displeasure. What followed was a profane tirade aimed directly at the officials, prompting Raptors players and coaching staff to step in and try to calm him down.
In the video footage, Rajakovic can be seen repeatedly shouting “Call the f–king foul!” at referee JT Orr (No. 72).
While heated interactions between coaches and referees are not uncommon in the NBA, Rajakovic’s reaction escalated quickly, signaling a culmination of the night’s many frustrations for Toronto. By that point in the contest, the Grizzlies already held a commanding 127-103 lead. They would go on to win 155-126—a franchise-best scoring total for Memphis.
For Rajakovic, now in his second season at the helm of the Raptors, public blow-ups like this are relatively rare.
He typically projects a measured, collected demeanor from the bench. However, when that composure cracks, the resulting fireworks can become the stuff of lore. Fans may recall a similarly intense episode from last year, when Rajakovic launched another fervent protest against the officials following a contentious game against the Los Angeles Lakers.
Thursday’s incident serves as a stark reminder that, while Rajakovic can often be seen calmly analyzing the game, he is unafraid to stand up for his players when he believes they have been wronged.
Unfortunately for the Raptors—who fell to 7-24 on the season—this outburst was merely a footnote in a night filled with disappointments, highlighted by the Grizzlies’ record-setting offensive performance.
Nonetheless, Rajakovic’s ejection will be remembered as one of the more dramatic coaching moments of this year’s NBA campaign, underscoring the idea that even the most even-tempered leaders have their limits when frustrations mount.
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