Darko Rajaković: First Serbian head coach at the All-Star — on Jokić, Obradović and the EuroLeague

Stepping into the All-Star role

Darko Rajaković has been named head coach of Team World for the All-Star event, becoming the first Serbian to lead one of the superstar teams in the new format. He’ll be joined on the bench by long-time colleague Ivo Simović, and Nikola Jokić will represent Serbia on the court.

Rajaković said the NBA conversations took a few weeks but the official nod was a proud moment. He’s excited to spend time with top players like Jokić, Luka Dončić, Deni Avdija and Pascal Siakam — the latter someone he coached while in Toronto. Having helped on an All-Star staff years ago, this appointment feels different because he’ll be the head coach.

On Serbian coaching roots, club rivalries and the EuroLeague

Rajaković spoke warmly about the long line of Serbian coaches who influenced him. He mentioned several legendary figures who built a recognizable coaching tradition in the region and also gave credit to many lesser-known youth coaches who helped shape his early years.

He follows the EuroLeague closely and keeps tabs on both Partizan and Crvena Zvezda. Rajaković expressed regret over recent upheaval involving Zeljko Obradović and said how much Partizan and Obradović mean to each other. He praised Obradović as one of Europe’s greatest coaches and wished him well wherever he lands next.

On the other side, Rajaković praised Sasa Obradovic’s work at Crvena Zvezda. He noted how tough it is to take over a team midseason and stressed that Sasa deserves support, comparing his club loyalty to the way Obradović feels about Partizan.

Rajaković also warned against quick judgments of coaches. The modern EuroLeague is more demanding than in the past — more games, different recovery cycles and higher competition — so he thinks evaluations should consider the whole season rather than isolated stretches.

When asked about contenders for the Final Four, he said the league is wide open. Teams he highlighted as serious candidates included Panathinaikos, Fenerbahçe, Monaco, Real Madrid and Barcelona. He emphasized that the playoffs — a series of games — often tell more about a team’s strength than a one-off Final Four weekend.

Overall, Rajaković is looking forward to the All-Star weekend, the chance to reconnect with players and coaches, and to represent his coaching roots on a global stage.