Beloved figure in global basketball community remembered for his coaching prowess and impact on NBA stars
Golden State Warriors assistant coach Dejan Milojević, instrumental in the team’s 2022 NBA championship win, passed away on Wednesday at the age of 46. The cause of death was reported as a heart attack, with Milojević succumbing to the medical emergency during a private team dinner in Salt Lake City, Utah, where the Warriors were scheduled to face the Utah Jazz later that night.
Warriors head coach Steve Kerr expressed deep sorrow in a statement, saying, “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.”
Milojević, a former star player in Serbia, had been with the Warriors for three seasons, contributing to the team’s success and mentoring players like two-time NBA MVP Nikola Jokic, Ivica Zubac, Goga Bitadze, and Boban Marjanovic during his coaching career in Europe.
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver paid tribute to Milojević, stating, “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.”
The late coach’s journey to the NBA involved a decorated international playing career and coaching stints in Serbia and Montenegro. His association with Jokic dates back to the player’s early years in Serbia before making the leap to the United States.
Warriors’ head coach Kerr shared how he came to know about Milojević through Kent Lacob, the son of Golden State owner Joe Lacob. Kerr was persistent in pursuing Milojević when the team underwent staff changes in 2021, eventually convincing him to join the Warriors. Milojević’s impact on the team was evident as they clinched the 2022 NBA championship in his first season with the organization.
Milojević, a three-time MVP in the Adriatic League, had a remarkable playing career, with legendary stories of his youth, including scoring 141 points as a 14-year-old in 1991. His coaching philosophy emphasized the love for the game, a sentiment he shared in a 2018 interview, “Only those who have a sincere love for the game can handle everything with great success.”
Before joining the Warriors, Milojević gained NBA experience through Summer League assistant-coach stints with Atlanta, San Antonio, and Houston. Tributes for the late coach poured in from various corners of the basketball world, including a heartfelt message from the Spanish club Valencia, where Milojević spent two seasons.
As the basketball community mourns the loss of a mentor, friend, and accomplished coach, the rescheduled date for the postponed Warriors-Jazz game is yet to be announced. The Utah Jazz assured fans that tickets for the initially scheduled game would be honored at the rescheduled event, allowing supporters to pay their respects to the late Dejan Milojević.
We are absolutely devastated by Dejan Milojević's sudden passing.
— Golden State Warriors (@warriors) January 17, 2024
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… pic.twitter.com/0wExlLlu5z
