Toronto Raptors coach Rajakovic eyes use of versatility, ball movement to be among NBA's best

The influence of the international game in the NBA is nothing new and definitely no secret.

The influence of the international game in the NBA is nothing new and definitely no secret.

The NBA Finals between the champion Denver Nuggets, led by Serbian superstar Nikola Jokic, and the Miami Heat served as the most recent example of what winning basketball looks like in the league. Both teams embraced the concept of more ball movement and less isolation play.

Toronto Raptors head coach Darko Rajakovic -- a Serbian himself -- wants his team to operate in a similar fashion during the 2023-24 season.

"The pass is becoming more and more important," Rajakovic said earlier in the week ahead of Raptors training camp. "From the Denver Nuggets winning the championship, and Miami, the way they played during the playoff series, that's becoming a common theme.

"Basketball is played less and less giving the ball to one guy and just getting that guy to go to work. It's more of interchangeable pieces, multiple players contributing.

"It's hard to scout opponents when they play that way, it's hard to play against teams that play that way. We want to be one of those teams."

The Raptors are coming off a 41-41 season that saw them miss the post-season for the second time in three years.