In Toronto, NBA’s lone international team hopes global agenda brings big gains

TORONTO (AP) — There’s always been a little bit of international flair in the only NBA city beyond the borders of the United States. This offseason, the Toronto Raptors added two new elements to their global game plan.

First, the Raptors fired Nick Nurse and made Darko Rajakovic the second Serbian head coach in league history. Next, Toronto signed free-agent Dennis Schroder shortly before the German guard led his nation on an undefeated World Cup run, beating Serbia in the gold-medal game and taking home tournament MVP honors.

To Raptors president Masai Ujiri, the summer’s events are simply the latest examples of an undeniable basketball truth.

“The game is going global,” Ujiri said as the Raptors opened training camp. “How about we think about it that way and be patient, and wait and see what opportunity is going to come to us? The last five players that have been MVP of the NBA have been international players. Five. And it looks like it’s going to continue that way maybe.”

Ujiri doesn’t employ Giannis Antetokounmpo, Nikola Jokic, or Joel Embiid, who have split those five awards. But Toronto’s British-born executive, whose ancestry is Nigerian and Kenyan, is a staunch believer in the gains to be made through embracing the broader basketball world.

“Maybe this is a challenge,” Ujiri said. “Maybe I should keep my mouth shut. But we’re part of that. We’re the only team in the NBA that’s outside of America and we’re proud of that. We’re going to continue to be proud of that. We should own it, because that’s going to give us opportunity at some point."

​​Rajakovic was hired after the Raptors went 41-41 in an uninspiring season under Nurse, losing in the opening round of the play-in tournament.

“We believe that a lot of our players didn’t play the right way last year and we want to see them play the right way,” Ujiri said. “I said that we were selfish, I’m not running away from that. We were selfish and we did not play the right way.”

Toronto’s offense is certain to look different under Rajakovic, with Ujiri promising plenty more cutting, moving and passing.

Rajakovic said he believes that team-focused brand of basketball has proven successful twice already this year, at both the NBA Finals and the FIBA World Cup.

“All teams are trying to play together, trying to move the ball,” Rajakovic said. “The passing is becoming more and more important, from the Denver Nuggets winning the championship and Miami, the way they played during the playoffs, that’s becoming a common theme. Basketball is played less and less by giving the ball to one guy and just getting that guy to go to work. It’s more about interchangeable pieces, multiple players contributing. It’s hard to scout opponents when they play that way, it’s hard to play against teams who play that way. We want to be one of those teams.”

Schroder and Rajakovic reunite with the Raptors after working together in Oklahoma City in 2018 and 2019. Toronto’s new coach started his NBA career as a Thunder assistant.

“I always had great communication with him, we worked really well together,” Rajakovic said. “He’s an up front and honest guy, a fierce competitor. I think he’s going to bring a great flavor to our team.”

Schroder did not speak to reporters on the opening day of training camp. A Raptors spokesperson said Schroder was not available because of a travel delay.

Toronto signed Schroder after veteran guard Fred VanVleet opted out of his contract and signed a three-year, $130-million deal with Houston.

“I’m happy for him, proud of him, obviously sad that he’s not here,” All-Star forward Pascal Siakam said of VanVleet. “I’ve always played on the same team with him so it’s tough to not have him.”

Ujiri offered a philosophical take on VanVleet’s departure.

“I think it was good for him and maybe it was good for us, too,” Ujiri said. “Replacing Fred with Dennis Schroder, who had a great summer, was good for us. I think we got better that way.”

Raptors center Jakob Poeltl, who is from Austria, was asked about the prospect of sharing a court – and a language – with fellow German-speaker Schroder.

“Maybe we’ll get some sneak plays, a little bit of secret communication,” Poeltl said.

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