Golden State Warriors assistant coach Dejan Milojević died Wednesday morning following a heart attack he sustained during a team dinner the previous night, the organization announced.
He was 46 years old.
"We are absolutely devastated by Dejan'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 incredible difficult time for his family, friends and all os us who had the incredible pleasure to work with him."
Milojević was hospitalized after suffering a heart attack at a private team dinner in Salt Lake City on Tuesday night, the team said. As a result, the NBA postponed the Warriors' scheduled game against the Utah Jazz scheduled for Wednesday night.
Milojević was in his third season on the Warriors' coaching staff, joining the team prior to the championship-winning 2021-22 campaign."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," Kerr said. "We grieve with and for his wife, Natasa, and their children, Nikola and Masa. Their loss is unfathomable."
Milojević was a renowned coach across Europe, where he worked for almost a decade before joining the Warriors nearly three years ago.
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During that time, he served as a mentor to two-time NBA MVP and Serbian countrymen Nikola Jokic, who he coached at the Serbian club Mega Basket.
Prior to becoming a coach, Milojević was a decorated player overseas both for club and Serbia. He won Adriatic League MVP three consecutive years from 2004 to 2006.
“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,” NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said. “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.”
With the Warriors, Milojević primarily worked with the team's big men. He was largely credited with developing center Kevon Looney into a key piece of the 2022 title team.
The makeup date for the team's postponed game vs. the Jazz has not been announced.
The Warriors are scheduled to host the Dallas Mavericks at Chase Center on Friday. The team hasn't said whether that game will be played.
