Golden State Warriors assistant coach Dejan Milojević died Wednesday after struggling a coronary heart assault, the staff stated in an announcement. He was 46.
“We are absolutely devastated by Dejan’s sudden passing,” Warriors head coach Steve Kerr stated. “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.”
Kerr described Milojević as a “positive” and “beautiful” particular person, and stated he “brought joy and light to every single day.”
“We grieve with and for his wife, Natasa, and their children, Nikola and Masa,” Kerr stated. “Their loss in unfathomable.”
Milojević was hospitalized in Salt Lake City on Tuesday after struggling a coronary heart assault at a non-public staff dinner, the Warriors’ assertion stated.
Hours earlier, the NBA had introduced on X (previously Twitter) {that a} sport between the Warriors and the Utah Jazz scheduled for Wednesday night time had been postponed as a result of “a medical emergency in the Warriors family.”
Milojević, a local of Serbia, was presently working in his third season as assistant coach with the Warriors. He was a part of the teaching employees when the staff gained the 2022 NBA championship.
He beforehand served as head coach for an European basketball membership in Montenegro referred to as KK Budućnost Voli.
Prior to that he served as head coach of the Serbian basketball membership KK Mega Bemax. He was named the assistant coach for the Serbian nationwide staff in 2019.
Before becoming a member of the Warriors, Milojević had expertise engaged on the employees of different NBA groups, such because the Houston Rockets, the Atlanta Hawks and the San Antonio Spurs.
Milojević had performed a number of years {of professional} basketball for the Adriatic League, profitable three consecutive MVP awards in 2004, 2005 and 2006.
Warriors rookie Brandon Podziemski mourned his demise on X on Wednesday.
“You changed my life in such a short time,” he wrote. “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 Milojević.”
NBA commissioner Adam Silver launched an announcement on behalf of the league remembering Milojević as a “beloved colleague.”
“In addition to winning the 2022 NBA championship in his first season with the Warriors and mentoring some of the best players in the world, Dejan had a decorated international playing career and was a distinguished head coach in his native Serbia,” he stated.
