The Raptors officially finalize a new coach: 44-year-old Grizzlies assistant coach caught the last train Nash did not have a chance to return to coach

On June 11, Beijing time, according to Woj, the Raptors have decided to hire Grizzlies assistant coach Dako Rajakovic as the team's new head coach. Rajakovic, a 44-year-old Serb, caught the last train and there are no head coach vacancies in the 30 NBA teams as the new Raptors coach is confirmed. The Raptors previously interviewed Nash, but ultimately did not hire the legendary Canadian guard.

The Raptors selection process took seven weeks and was quite complicated. In the end, Raptors president Ujiri and general manager Webster selected Rajakovic to replace the departing Nick Nas.

In 2012, Rajakovic moved to the Thunder from Serbia as head coach of his Development League team. He then joined the Thunder's coaching staff, later moved to the Suns and Grizzlies, and eventually became the chief assistant to Grizzlies coach Jenkins.

Sources said the Raptors' requirement for a new coach is to be able to coach a competitive roster as well as a rebuild roster with more young players. Warriors assistant Atkinson and Bucks assistant Charles Lee have also been seriously considered by Raptors executives.

Former Nets coach Nash was offered an interview in late May, but he doesn't appear to have made it to the final selection. Nash coached 161 regular-season games with the Nets, 94-67, a 58.4 percent winning percentage, and coached 20 playoff games with a 7-13 winning percentage of 35 percent.

In the 2022-23 season, the Raptors are 41-41, ranking 9th in the East, and in the play-offs, they lost to the Bulls and did not qualify for the playoffs. The Raptors are now only Barnes for sale, and many of the main players on the team are likely to leave.