SUMMARY
- Dejan Milojević, the assistant coach of the Golden State Warriors, passed away on January 17, 2024, in Salt Lake City due to a sudden heart attack.
- Serbian basketball icon Milojević had a successful career both as a player and a coach.
Sudden and immediate loss of life might scar people for their entire lives, especially when the deceased was interwoven in so many lives. The assistant coach of the Golden State Warriors breathed his last on January 17, 2024, in Salt Lake City. Dejan Milojević was a beloved basketball personality who played a crucial role in the successes of many in the global basketball community.
The Warriors’ officials stated on Wednesday that Milojević succumbed to a heart attack during a team dinner at Valter’s Osteria. Although the deceased assistant coach suffered the attack on Tuesday, January 16, 2024, he departed the world on Wednesday morning. According to Adrian Wojnarowski, Dejan was admitted to the hospital in critical condition in SLC on Tuesday.
Golden State assistant coach Dejan Milojevic had died. Milojevic, 46, was hospitalized Tuesday in SLC in critical condition. After a decorated 15-year playing/coaching career, the Serbian native joined Warriors staff in 2021. He was a beloved figure in global and league circles.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) January 17, 2024
The retired 6-foot-7 power forward is survived by his family of three. NBA Commissioner Adam Silver sent condolences to his wife Natasa and the two children, Nikola and Masa. Steve Kerr, the head coach of the Golden State Warriors, was devastated by his confidant’s loss. After all, not only did the legend help the Warriors win the championship in 2022, but he was also a mentor to some hot-shot players.
Because of this tragic loss of a beautiful soul, the organizers rescheduled the game between the Golden State Warriors and the Utah Jazz. The Warriors were about to face off against the Jazz on January 17, 2024. However, since Milojević had to be hospitalized in a jiffy, an official statement was released by The Athletic’s Anthony Slater. The No. 12-seeded Warriors might be in great distress, as the team might be putting in constant effort to recover from the dreadful loss.
Dejan Milojević career as a player and coach
A Serbian professional basketball player and coach, born in Belgrade, SR Serbia, had a staunch presence in basketball as a player. From 1994 until 2009, the 6-foot-7 power forward appeared for the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, Serbia, and Montenegro leagues. He played for Kosarkaski Klub Beovuk 72 from 1994 to 1998. Then the next two seasons with KK FMP, and then his further seasons with five more franchises.
After playing his stint with Partizan in 2009, the former player underwent a career transition. He was then appointed head coach for Mega Basket of the Adriatic Basketball Association. The deceased power forward worked as a mentor to the Nuggets’ star, Nikola Jokić. As a player, Milojevic won the ‘Adriatic League Most Valued Player’ award three times in a row. As a coach, he helped the Mega record their first-ever trophy, along with their first ABA League final appearance.
Not only that, the stellar coach even helped the Buducnost become Montenegrin League Champion (2021) and Montenegrin Cup Winner (2021). Dejan joined hands with the Warriors in 2021 as an assistant coach and worked in the back end as the Warriors swept the 2022 championship.