Golden State assistant Dejan Milojevic dies at 46; NBA postpones Warriors vs. Jazz
Golden State Warriors assistant coach Dejan Milojevic has died of a sudden medical issue at the age of 46, the team has confirmed.
"We are absolutely devastated by Dejan Milojević's sudden passing," Warriors head coach Steve Kerr said 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.
"We grieve with and for his wife, Natasa, and their children, Nikola and Masa."
The NBA postponed Wednesday night's Golden State Warriors game at the Utah Jazz in the wake of Milojevic's passing.
The Warriors staff is at the hospital with Milojevic, 46, who had to be rushed there Tuesday night from a Salt Lake City restaurant where his medical issue started, the Warriors had said. Both players and members of the coaching staff were with Milojevic when the health issues suddenly arose, reports Adrian Wojnarowski and Ramona Shelburne of ESPN. Warriors staff stayed with him as long as they were allowed on Tuesday night then returned Wednesday morning.
Milojevic is well known in international coaching circles. A native of Belgrade, Milojevic had a 14-year playing career internationally before turning to coaching, and he was a three-time MVP of the Adriatic Basketball Association (ABA). He moved into coaching after he retired and was the head coach of Mega Basket in the ABA when a young Nikola Jokic was there early in his career, and Milojevic still has a very close relationship with the NBA MVP and champion.
This was his third season on the Warriors bench and he had a championship ring from being with the team during its 2022 title run.
No date for the postponed game to be replayed has been set.
