Toronto Raptors coach Darko Rajakovic expressed dissatisfaction with the officiating during the Tuesday night game against the Los Angeles Lakers, a match that ended in a narrow 132-131 victory for the Lakers.
Rajakovic voiced his frustration in a postgame rant, particularly highlighting his discontent with the Lakers receiving 23 free throws in the fourth quarter.
In a passionate statement to the media, Rajakovic criticized the disparity in free throw opportunities between the two teams, stating: “That’s outrageous. What happened tonight, this is completely BS. This is shame. Shame for the referees. Shame for the league to allow this. Twenty-three free throws for them and we get two free throws in the fourth quarter? Like, how to play the game?”
The Raptors coach also emphasized the perceived lack of calls for star players on his team, singling out Scottie Barnes, whom he considers an All-Star-caliber player.
Rajakovic questioned the fairness of the officiating, expressing frustration over Barnes receiving only two free throws throughout the entire game.
Also Read: Drake And Camila Cabello Spotted Jet Skiing Together During Turks & Caicos Getaway
Drake, a prominent figure and avid supporter of the Toronto Raptors, came to Rajakovic’s defense by posting a clip of the coach’s postgame remarks on his Instagram stories. Alongside the video, Drake conveyed his support with the message: “Toronto has a real one as their coach; this guy is a GUYZER.”
This isn’t the first instance of Drake expressing solidarity with the Raptors coaching staff. Earlier in the season, he entered the locker room to deliver an inspiring speech after a victory over the Phoenix Suns.
The Raptors are navigating a challenging season, currently ranking 11th in the Eastern Conference with a record of 15-22. The team recently engaged in a significant trade, acquiring Canadian small forward R.J. Barrett from the New York Knicks in exchange for O.G. Anunoby, Precious Achiuwa, and Malachi Flynn.