After the Toronto Raptors’ loss against the Los Angeles Lakers, the coach goes on a rant
Masai Ujiri, the president of the Toronto Raptors, broke down in tears when discussing the trade of Pascal Siakam to the Indiana Pacers.
02:15: Ujiri talks passionately about trading Siakam.
Raptors of Toronto As the team works to reassemble its nucleus, President Masai Ujiri thinks additional deals are “absolutely” on the horizon.
01:10 Ujiri predicts a “certainly” increase in transactions.
Basketball in Toronto has come to an end with the trade of Pascal Siakam to the Indiana Pacers, as the Raptors attempt to rebuild the squad.
02:07 The Toronto Raptors’ implications from the Siakam trade
The Indiana Pacers are said to have acquired the last member of the Toronto Raptors 2019 championship squad.
01:58 Pascal Siakam trade: Why did the Toronto Raptors do it?
The presenter of the Locked On Raptors podcast, Sean Woodley, explains why he thinks the Siakam deal was a horrible move for the franchise.
02:10: How should we interpret the Siakam trade?
Multiple media sources state that the Toronto Raptors have traded All-Star Pascal Siakam to the Indiana Pacers.
00:45: Indiana Pacers acquire Pascal Siakam from the Raptors
Following his team’s close 132-131 loss to the Los Angeles Lakers, Toronto Raptors head coach Darko Rajakovic chastised NBA officials.
02:05: Observe as Darko Rajakovic criticizes NBA officials
Following Toronto Raptors head coach Darko Rajakovic’s criticism of NBA officials, Andrew Damelin responds.
03:40: A Raptors reporter responds to a tirade by Rajakovic
Beacham, Greg
The Contact for Associated Press Staff
Updated 7:16 a.m. PST on January 10, 2024
Published 5:13 a.m. PST on January 10, 2024
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Los Angeles: Following Tuesday night’s 132-131 victory over the Raptors (opens in a new tab), in which the Los Angeles Lakers made 23 free throws in the fourth quarter, Toronto coach Darko Rajakovic launched an enraged, table-pounding tirade against the officials.
The first-year Serbian head coach of Toronto, Rajakovic, criticized the game’s free throw disparity after Anthony Davis went 11 for 11 at the charity line in the fourth quarter, when he scored 20 of his 41 points. Of the 36 free throws the Lakers made during the game, Davis made 14 of them, while the entire Toronto team only made 13.
It’s absurd. What transpired today is utterly absurd,” Rajakovic declared. “It’s a shame. Disgrace to the umpires. It’s a shame the league let this happen. They get twenty-three free throws, and in the fourth quarter, we only get two? For example, how do I play the game? I get that All-Stars should be respected and all that, but our team also features star players.
“How is it possible that Scottie Barnes, an All-Star player in this league, only gets two free throws during a complete game while going to the rim repeatedly with force, trying to get there without stumbling, and not trying to draw fouls?” Rajakovic continued, repeatedly slamming the table to emphasize his point. “How is that even possible? How will you explain that to me, please?”
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With the Lakers down the stretch against the Raptors—who were without injured starting big Jakob Poeltl—Davis pulled down 11 rebounds and shot 13 for 17. In the last 1:01, Davis finished off his outstanding performance with 10 points, including 8 consecutive free throws and a crucial block of Barnes.
Rajakovic reportedly thought his squad was never given a chance by the referees.
Had they won tonight? Please inform us if that is the case so that we can avoid attending the game, “Rajakovic remarked. “Just give it to them. But tonight, that was unfair. We are not experiencing this for the first time. Scottie Barnes will be an All-Star in the future. He will represent this league, and everything that goes on here for the entire season is utter garbage.
The Raptors, who acquired RJ Barrett and Immanuel Quickley from New York in exchange for OG Anunoby, lost for just the second time in five games despite having 26 points from Barnes and 25 from Pascal Siakam. The Raptors, who had only lost to the Lakers on the road twice in their previous nine trips, were led in scoring by Barrett, who finished with 23 points, and Quickley, who had 21 points and four 3-pointers.
