The Golden State Warriors are mourning the loss of their assistant coach, Dejan Milojevi?, who passed away on Wednesday following a heart attack he suffered the previous day. The team expressed their profound sorrow in a statement, saying, “We are absolutely devastated by Dejan Milojevi?’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. … We grieve with and for his wife, Natasa, and their children, Nikola and Masa.”
Milojevi?, 46, was hospitalized in Salt Lake City, Utah, on Tuesday night after experiencing a medical emergency during a private team dinner. In response to this tragic event, the NBA postponed the scheduled Warriors-Jazz game on Wednesday to a later, unspecified date.
BC Crvena zvezda Meridianbet, a Serbian men’s professional basketball team, confirmed Milojevi?’s cause of death as a heart attack. Their statement read, “It is with great sadness that we received the news that the former golden member of the national team, coach in the coaching staff of the Serbian national team, a great basketball player, but also our great sports friend, Dejan Milojevi?, died of a heart attack.”
Warriors guard Brandin Podziemski shared a heartfelt tribute to Milojevi?, stating, “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 Milojevi?.”
Before joining the Warriors, Milojevi? was part of the Hawks Summer League staff in 2016, the San Antonio Spurs in 2017, and the Houston Rockets in 2018. He was in his third season with the Warriors and celebrated a championship victory with the team in 2022 against the Boston Celtics in the NBA Finals.
Milojevi?, known for his philosophy on basketball, once said in an interview with Bosnian outlet RTV, “I teach all my players that basketball is not a job, but that they should enjoy the game. Because if you want to do something for the next 20 years, then you have to love it a lot. It’s not easy to endure all these efforts if you don’t like something. Only those who have a sincere love for the game can handle everything with great success.”
Renowned for his expertise in coaching big men, Milojevi? notably worked with NBA MVP Nikola Joki?. Atlanta Hawks guard Bogdan Bogdanovi? and Mavericks star Luka Doncic both paid their respects, with Bogdanovi? posting, “Pocivaj u miru Deki” (Rest in peace Deki) on social media.
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver also expressed his condolences, stating, “The NBA mourns the sudden passing of Golden State assistant coach Dejan Milojevi?, a beloved colleague and dear friend to so many in the global basketball community.”
Milojevi?’s coaching career included a stint as the head coach of KK Budu?nost in the Adriatic League in Montenegro, where he won the Montenegrin League Championship in 2021. He also led KK Mega Basket in Belgrade, Spain, for eight seasons from 2012-2020. His 15-year playing career in Europe was distinguished by three consecutive Adriatic League MVP awards from 2004-06.
RIP.
