The Golden State Warriors, a National Basketball Association (NBA) club, delivered the shocking news of the sudden passing of assistant coach Dejan Milojevic at the age of 46. The Belgrade-born coach tragically lost his life to a heart attack during a team dinner, as disclosed by Warriors' officials on January 18 (Wednesday). This announcement has sent shockwaves through the NBA community, especially considering Milojevic's substantial contributions to the team's success, including their NBA championship win in 2022.
Warriors head coach Steve Kerr expressed deep sorrow, remembering Milojevic not only as a skilled basketball coach but as a positive and inspiring individual who brought joy to each day with his passion and energy.
"We are absolutely devastated by Dejan's sudden passing. 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," Kerr stated in a statement released by the official X (formerly Twitter) account of the Golden State Warriors public relations.
"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," the statement further adds.
Milojevic was rushed to a Salt Lake City hospital on Tuesday after the heart attack at a private team dinner. Despite immediate life-saving efforts, he succumbed to the medical emergency on Wednesday morning. In response, the NBA postponed the Warriors' scheduled game against the Utah Jazz, citing a "medical emergency in the Warriors family," with a makeup date to be announced.
Milojevic's Coaching Journey
Prior to becoming part of the Warriors, Milojevic had a noteworthy coaching career, which included leading Buducnost in the Adriatic League in Montenegro during the 2021 season. Additionally, he served as the head coach for Mega Basket in Belgrade, Serbia, for a period of eight seasons.
Milojevic's influence in the world of basketball extended beyond coaching, as he enjoyed a distinguished 14-year international playing career. During this time, he achieved the honour of being named the Adriatic League Most Valuable Player three times (2004-06). In December 2019, Milojevic took on the role of an assistant coach for the Serbian national team under the leadership of Igor Kokoskov.