Golden State Warriors assistant coach Dejan Milojevic, a mentor to two-time NBA MVP Nikola Jokic, handed away Wednesday afternoon at age 46 in Utah after struggling a coronary heart assault.
He died in Salt Lake Metropolis, the place he was hospitalized Tuesday night time after the medical emergency occurred throughout a personal workforce dinner. As an assistant, Milojevic helped the Warriors win the 2022 NBA Finals in opposition to the Boston Celtics.
The Warriors had been scheduled to play the Utah Jazz on Wednesday night time, which the NBA later postponed. The date for the rescheduled recreation shall be introduced at a later time.
Dejan Milojević replace: pic.twitter.com/bUKQGC3MHf
— Warriors PR (@WarriorsPR) January 17, 2024
“We’re completely devastated by Dejan’s sudden passing,” Golden State coach Steve Kerr mentioned in a press release. “This can be a stunning and tragic blow for everybody related to the Warriors and an extremely tough time for his household, associates, and all of us who had the unimaginable pleasure to work with him.”
Milojevic was in his third season with the Warriors. His taking part in profession resulted in 2009. He beforehand coached for Mega Basket (2012-20) in Serbia and Buducnost (2021) in Montenegro.
In 2012, Milojevic was employed as head coach for Mega Basket of the Adriatic Basketball Affiliation (ABA). He coached Jokic earlier than the now-Denver Nuggets star was drafted into the NBA in 2014.
Golden State Warriors assistant Dejan Milojevic died at 46 after coronary heart assault, joined NBA membership in 2021
Milojevic was not solely a head coach for eight years in Europe, however he additionally served as an assistant coach for the Serbian nationwide workforce alongside present Atlanta Hawks assistant Igor Koskoskov.
“The NBA mourns the sudden passing of Golden State assistant coach Dejan Milojevic, a beloved colleague and pricey pal to so many within the international basketball group,” NBA Commissioner Adam Silver mentioned.
“Along with profitable the 2022 NBA championship in his first season with the Warriors and mentoring among the finest gamers on the earth, Dejan had a embellished worldwide taking part in profession and was a distinguished head coach in his native Serbia.
“Our heartfelt condolences exit to his spouse, Natasa, their youngsters, Nikola and Masa, and the Warriors group throughout this tragic time.”
We’re completely devastated by Dejan Milojević’s sudden passing.
This can be a stunning and tragic blow for everybody related to the Warriors and an extremely tough time for his household, associates, and all of us who had the unimaginable pleasure to work with him.
We grieve… pic.twitter.com/0wExlLlu5z
— Golden State Warriors (@warriors) January 17, 2024
Kent Lacob, the son of Warriors proprietor Joe Lacob, beneficial Milojevic to Kerr’s teaching employees. In 2021, Kerr determined to pursue Milojevic. It quickly grew to become clear to the 2016 NBA Coach of the 12 months on why he was certified.
“I instantly noticed what Kent was speaking about,” Kerr mentioned in a video produced by the Warriors final yr. “He was so nice to be round. On the similar time, he had this wonderful basketball background each as a participant and a coach. It made a lot sense for us to deliver Deki in.”
Dejan Milojevic gained three straight MVP awards (2004-06) within the ABA League. Jokic was MVP of that league in 2015, a yr after present Warriors ahead Dario Saric was MVP.
No participant has extra ABA MVPs than Milojevic. One in every of his best accomplishments was scoring 141 factors as a 14-year-old in 1991. Within the second half, he scored 83 factors after his coach informed him to aim all of the photographs.
