GOLDEN State Warriors assistant coach Dejan Milojevic has died, the National Basketball Association (NBA) club said on Wednesday (Thursday in Manila) after the Belgrade native suffered a heart attack during a team dinner.
The 46-year-old Milojevic was in his third season as an assistant coach with Golden State after helping the team win the 2022 NBA championship.
“We are absolutely devastated by Dejan’s sudden passing,” said Warriors head coach Steve Kerr. “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.”
The Warriors said Milojevic was taken to a Salt Lake City hospital on Tuesday (Wednesday in Manila) after suffering a heart attack at a private team dinner but, despite life-saving efforts, died late Wednesday morning.
Earlier, the NBA announced that the Warriors’ game at the Utah Jazz scheduled for later on Wednesday (Thursday in Manila) had been postponed because of a “medical emergency in the Warriors family” and that a makeup date would be announced at a later time.
The Utah Jazz was among the NBA teams who expressed their condolences following the news of Milojevic’s death, calling him “a well-respected and beloved member of the NBA family.”
Before joining the Warriors, Milojevic spent the 2021 season as head coach of Buducnost in the Adriatic League in Montenegro. Prior to that role, Milojevic was head coach for Mega Basket in Belgrade, Serbia, for eight seasons.
In December 2019, Milojevic was named an assistant coach for the Serbian national team under Igor Kokoskov.
Milojevic also enjoyed a 14-year international playing career and was named the Adriatic League Most Valuable Player three times (2004-06).
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver also released a statement on Milojevic’s death.
