Salt Lake City, Utah – Warriors assistant coach Dejan Milojević tragically passed away on Wednesday after experiencing a medical emergency. The news was announced by the team, who revealed that Milojević suffered a heart attack during a private team dinner the previous night and was hospitalized. Despite efforts to save his life, Milojević did not recover and passed away the following morning.
Milojević, who hailed from Serbia, was 46 years old. His sudden death has left the Warriors organization and the basketball community devastated. Warriors coach Steve Kerr expressed his shock and sadness over the loss, describing Milojević as a positive and beautiful person who brought joy to those around him. Kerr extended his condolences to Milojević’s wife, Natasa, and their children, Nikola and Masa, acknowledging the unfathomable loss they are experiencing.
Milojević served as an assistant coach for the Warriors for three seasons, following a successful 14-year career as a professional player in various international leagues. He also had a stint as the head coach of the Serbian team Mega Vizura. During his time with the Warriors, Milojević primarily worked closely with players like James Wiseman, but also made significant contributions to the development of Draymond Green and Kevon Looney.
Milojević’s expertise and guidance were credited with helping Looney improve his rebounding skills, which have become a crucial aspect of his game. The Warriors were in Salt Lake City for a game against the Utah Jazz when the tragic incident occurred. As a result, the NBA decided to postpone the game to a later date.
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver released a statement expressing his condolences on Milojević’s passing, highlighting the impact he had on the Warriors’ organization and the broader basketball community. Sacramento Kings coach Mike Brown, who worked with Milojević during his time with the Warriors, also shared his deep sorrow over the loss, emphasizing Milojević’s talents as a coach and his even greater qualities as a person.
The untimely passing of Dejan Milojević leaves a void not only within the Warriors but also in the hearts of all who knew him. His contributions to the game of basketball and his positive presence will be greatly missed. As the basketball community mourns his loss, thoughts and prayers are with Milojević’s family during this unimaginably difficult time.