Dejan Milojević, an assistant coach for the Golden State Warriors, passed away on Wednesday at the age of 46. The Warriors were having a team dinner in Salt Lake City on Tuesday night when Milojević suffered a heart attack and had to be rushed to the hospital.
NBA World Reacts to Death of Warriors Coach Dejan Milojević
Adam Silver and the Warriors Issue Statements
Many within the NBA and the Warriors organization paid tribute to Milojević and sent their condolences to his family, following the devastating announcement.
League commissioner Adam Silver released a statement, saying “The NBA mourns the sudden passing of Golden State assistant coach Dejan Milojević, a beloved colleague and dear friend to so many in the global basketball community…Our heartfelt condolences go out to his wife, Natasa, their children, Nikola and Masa, and the Warriors organization during this tragic time.”
The Warriors also released a statement in which head coach Steve Kerr said “We are absolutely devastated by Dejan’s sudden passing…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.”
NBA Players React to Dejan Milojević’s Death
Warriors rookie guard Brandin Podziemski also shared how the Serbian native had impacted him during their short time together.
You changed my life in such a short time. The most important thing you ever told me was to just smile! Your joy and laughs will forever be missed. Shine down on us from heaven. Rest In Peace Dejan Milojević ❤️ https://t.co/ZpHQFCQ3f4
— Brandin Podziemski (@brandinpodziem2) January 17, 2024
Numerous NBA players have shared their heartfelt sentiments on social media, including Timberwolves center Karl-Anthony Towns and Jazz forward Lauri Markannen.
My thoughts and prayers go out to Coach Milojević’s family and to the entire Golden State organization. A terrible loss for the NBA community 🙏🏽 https://t.co/wOw31vYoJB
— Karl-Anthony Towns (@KarlTowns) January 17, 2024
Awful news today.. My deepest condolences to Coach Milojevic’s family and the Warriors organization..
— Lauri Markkanen (@MarkkanenLauri) January 17, 2024
Milojević’s Playing Career
Milojević had a long and storied career in Europe, both as a coach and as a player. During his youth career in Serbia, Milojević scored 141 points in an u-16 game, a record which still stands. He started his professional playing career with Beovuk, a team in his hometown of Belgrade.
Milojević, a 6’7 forward, went on to play for established organizations such as Serbia’s Partizan, Spain’s Parmesa Valencia, and Turkey’s Galatasaray. Throughout his 15 years as a professional, Milojević accumulated several individual awards, including winning the Adriatic League’s Most Valuable Player three times in a row from 2004 to 2006. He subsequently retired in 2009.
Milojević’s Coaching Career
Three years after his retirement, Milojević was announced as the head coach of Belgradian club Mega Basket, where he coached the Denver Nuggets’ two-time MVP and NBA champion Nikola Jokić. Milojević and Jokić continued to enjoy a close friendship in the NBA. During his eight seasons coaching Mega Basket, he oversaw the development of a whopping 11 NBA draftees, including the Thunder’s Vasilije Micić, the Clippers’ Ivica Zubac, the Nuggets’ Vlatko Čančar, and the Magic’s Goga Bitadze.
Milojević joined the Warriors ahead of the 2021-22 season and was part of the team that won the 2022 NBA Championship. Milojević was tasked with working with interior players and was one of the main reasons for Kevon Looney’s leap in rebounding. Looney had averaged 5.3 rebounds the season prior. Following Milojević’s arrival, he improved his rebounding numbers to 7.3 in the regular season and 7.6 in the playoffs.
The NBA announced that Wednesday night’s game between the Warriors and the Utah Jazz has been postponed.
