Warriors Assistant Coach Shockingly Passes Away Ahead of Mavs Matchup; Details
LOS ANGELES — The basketball world mourns the loss of Dejan Milojevic, an assistant coach for the Golden State Warriors and former professional player who passed away at age 46.
Milojevic experienced a sudden medical emergency while dining in Salt Lake City on Tuesday. Details about the incident have not been disclosed. At the time, the Warriors were in Utah preparing for a game against the Jazz, scheduled for Wednesday night.
Following this tragic event, the game has since been postponed, with a rescheduled date to be announced later.
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Despite not being selected in the 1999 NBA Draft, Milojevic had a remarkable career in European basketball. He distinguished himself by winning the ABA League MVP award for three consecutive years and earning the ABA scoring title in back-to-back seasons.
Milojevic retired from his playing career in 2009 and then transitioned into coaching. He coached in Serbia and Montenegro, contributing to the development of numerous players, including two-time NBA MVP Nikola Jokic. He also served as an assistant coach for the Serbian national team, who released a statement.
“With great pain and sadness, the Basketball Federation of Serbia received the news that our Dejan Milojevic left us too soon,” the Serbian Basketball Federation released in a statement.
Joining the Golden State Warriors in 2021, Milojevic made his impact felt, often working with the team's frontcourt players. He contributed to a successful 2022 NBA Finals run. His sudden passing is a significant loss to the basketball community, resulting in mourning from many whom he impacted as a coach and competitor.
The Dallas Mavericks are set to face the Warriors on Friday, the first game to occur for Golden State after this tragic event.
