Warriors Postpone Second Game To Mourn Assistant Dejan Milojević

by Patrick MoquinJanuary 19, 2024, 7:35 pmDaily Digest, News >

Golden State Warriors assistant coach Dejan Milojević died Wednesday after suffering a heart attack at a team dinner in Utah. He was 46. The Warriors have postponed two games this week to mourn the loss of their coach.

“We are absolutely devastated by Dejan’s sudden passing,” Warriors head coach Steve Kerr said in a statement. “This is a shocking and tragic blow for everyone associated with the Warriors and an incredibly difficult time for his family, friends, and all of us who had the incredible pleasure to work with him. In addition to being a terrific basketball coach, Dejan was one of the most positive and beautiful human beings I have ever known, someone who brought joy and light to every single day with his passion and energy. We grieve with and for his wife, Natasa, and their children, Nikola and Masa. Their loss is unfathomable.”

Milojević started coaching for the Warriors in 2021 after playing and coaching Europe for his entire career. He began his professional career in 1994 in his hometown of Belgrade, Serbia, playing for KK Beovuk 72. He played for the team until 1998 and went on to compete throughout Europe until 2009.

From 2012 to 2020, Milojević coached KK Mega Basket in Belgrade. He was best known during this period for coaching Denver Nuggets star Nikola Jokic before he was drafted in 2014. During his tenure, Milojević coached 11 players who went on to get drafted by NBA teams.

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Between 2021 and 2024, Milojević assisted Kerr and became an NBA champion when the Warriors defeated the Celtics in the 2022 NBA Finals. Milojević worked closely with Warriors center Kevon Looney throughout his time in Golden State and received credit for helping him develop. The big man was reportedly “particularly crushed” when his coach was hospitalized Tuesday night after collapsing at the team dinner.

The Warriors will not play their scheduled games against the Utah Jazz and Dallas Mavericks this week while they mourn and recover from this setback. The league has approved these postponements due to the public and the sudden nature of the incident.