Raptors coach Darko Rajakovic wishes for a longer pre-season training camp despite the current hectic schedule of four days of practice followed by exhibition games. He believes that an extended period with additional games could better prepare his team for the regular season's intensity. Players like Jamal Shead acknowledge the demanding schedule but see it as beneficial, allowing them to acclimate their bodies and understand how to manage back-to-back games effectively.
Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-10-13,
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same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
Darko Rajakovic, coach of the Toronto Raptors, believes that players need more preparation time for the upcoming regular season rather than less. While fans and some players would prefer fewer days in training camp and preseason games to get more rest before the arduous regular season, Rajakovic argues they are missing approximately two weeks of training camp compared to what he sees as ideal. He feels that with the intensity and changes in how the game is played, a longer training period and additional exhibition games would better prepare players for the rigors of the regular season. The Raptors recently had an unusual pre-season schedule, including only four days of practice before their first exhibition game and three more games over a span of four nights after returning from Vancouver.
Written for “Raptors Preseason Basketball” on 2026-10-13,
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While fans and some players would gladly trade days in training camp and the odd pre-season game for a bit more rest in an arduous regular season, the Raptors coach wouldn’t mind even more preparation time.
“If you ask players, they will start to play games on the first day of training camp … if you ask coaches, we’re missing probably two weeks of training camp
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we → trade → camp
,” Rajakovic said after the Raptors worked out Monday afternoon.
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Raptors → say → ?
“I do think that the way game is being played — the intensity of the game and how much the game is changing right now — in my personal opinion a little bit longer training camp and a couple more games actually would do better justice to players in preparation for the regular season.”
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camp → think → season
The Raptors are in the midst of an odd training period that meandered through the first couple weeks before hitting warp speed this week.
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that → meander → speed
They had four days of practice before their first exhibition game and then a day off before four practices leading into their second.
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They → have → second
But after returning from Vancouver Sunday and working out Monday’ Toronto plays three games in four nights to end the pre-season.
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Toronto → return → season
There’s no sense in complaining — scheduling is not something the players or coaches have a say in — but it’s a heavy load.
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it → ’ → say
“Back in the day when I was interviewing for a job in the G League as a head coach, I learned my lesson that the schedule is the schedule and all we can do as coaches is adjust to it,” Rajakovic said.
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Rajakovic → interview → it
“I think playing three games in four nights, coming back from the west coast, is not perfect but I think it’s going to give us an opportunity to continue looking at different guys and different lineups.”
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it → think → guys
It’s unlikely any player will appear in all three games — Tuesday at home against New York, Thursday in New York and Friday in Detroit — because there’s still a full complement of 21 campers to take a look at and there’s no sense wearing down regulars in meaningless games.
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player → ’ → games
But just going through the grind — a shootaround and game Tuesday, a practice and a flight Wednesday, a shootaround, a game and a flight Thursday and then a game and a flight Friday — at least will get their bodies used to the pace.
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bodies → go → pace
“I’d rather have it now than we run into it for the first time after seven or eight games and all of our legs are not used to it,” guard Jamal Shead said.
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Shead → have → it
“It’s good to get it out of the way now, get a feel for our bodies.
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It → ’ → bodies
I think we’ll get to see how in shape we are, where our bodies are, and how we’ve got to help each other push through back-to-backs in similar weeks like this.
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other → think → this
More days and more games would suit Rajakovic fine.
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days → suit → Rajakovic
“I think four weeks would be a great length of all the training camp and playing six games, seven games in that amount of time,” he said.
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he → think → time
“I think that it will allow enough time to implement offence and defence, to slowly build players with their minutes and give opportunity to all the players.
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it → think → players
I think coaches would be feeling less rushed and more prepared going into the regular season.”
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coaches → think → season
Much-anticipated debut
Rajakovic said Kawhi Leonard was a full participant in Monday’s practice and will be available to make his season debut Tuesday.
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Leonard → anticipate → debut
It’s not only fans who are anxious to see it.
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who → ’ → it
Leonard has yet to play a minute and developing some cohesion with starters Scottie Barnes, RJ Barrett, Immanuel Quickley and Jakob Poeltl is imperative.
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developing → have → starters
“It’s going to be cool to see him in that first group and see how they start the game,” Shead said.
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Shead → go → game
“He’s a talent … and I think just seeing where he is and how he fits in with us is going to be fun, because I think he’s going to fit right in and it’s going to pop.
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it → ’ → us
Big roster move
The Raptors added seven-foot-five centre Jamarion Sharp to a camp contract Monday and waived guard Chucky Hepburn.
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Raptors → add → Hepburn
Sharp was on Toronto’s Summer League team and gives the team some protection with current big men Nate Bittle and Trey Jemison III both injured.
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men → give → protection
Hepburn, who tweaked his hamstring in Saturday’s game in Vancouver, could catch on with the G League Raptors 905 or return on a two-way contract if the Raptors cut someone else.
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Raptors → tweak → someone
The Aporia
