Warriors assistant coach Dejan Milojević has died at the age of 46, Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN reported on X Wednesday afternoon.
Milojević had been taken to a hospital in Salt Lake City after having a “sudden and serious health issue” at a team dinner last night. The Warriors game against the Nuggets was postponed due to the situation. According to Meridian Sport, a Serbian website, the cause of death was a heart attack.
“We are absolutely devastated by Dejan’s sudden passing,” said Warriors head coach Steve Kerr in a statement. “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.”
His former teams,Valencia and Galatasaray, both posted tributes on X.
He joined the Warriors as an assistant in 2021, after being the head coach of Mega Vizura in his home country Serbia from 2012-2021. He briefly coached Budućnost in Montenegro before moving on to the Warriors.
“Dejan Milojević, the golden representative of our country, the adored personality of Serbian basketball, a man with the widest smile and enormous strength, a big heart stopped beating in the distant and cold Salt Lake City. Never colder, that January 17, 2024,” reads an in memoriam about Milojević on Meridian Sport.
Milojević was a superstar in Europe, with a 15-year career spanning between time in Serbia, Montenegro, Spain and Turkey. He was a three-time ABA Adriatic MVP from 2003-2006. He is also known for training five-time NBA All-Star Nikola Jokić. Milojević won a championship with Golden State in 2022.
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