Golden State Warriors assistant coach Dejan Milojevic died Wednesday morning after struggling a coronary heart assault throughout a non-public group dinner in Utah the earlier night time. He was 46.
“We’re completely devastated by Dejan’s sudden passing,” Warriors coach Steve Kerr mentioned in a press release by the group. “This can be a surprising and tragic blow for everybody related to the Warriors and an extremely tough time for his household, pals, and all of us who had the unbelievable pleasure to work with him.”
Milojevic was hospitalized in Salt Lake Metropolis on Tuesday night time. The NBA postponed the Warriors-Jazz recreation scheduled for Wednesday night time. A brand new date has but to be introduced.
As a participant, Milojevic was a 6-foot-7, 240-pound energy ahead who was named most respected participant of the Adriatic League three straight years, from 2004 to 2006. Hewent on to educate in Europe for eight years. Throughout a stint in his native Serbia, Milojevic served as a mentor to present Denver Nuggets star and two-time NBA MVP Nikola Jokic.
“Relaxation in peace Deki!,” Jokic wrote on Instagram, together with a photograph of the 2 of them.
Additionally in Europe, Milojevic served as a coach to such gamers as Clippers middle Ivica Zubac, Orlando Magic middle Goga Bitadze and Houston Rockets middle Boban Marjanovic, a former Clippers participant.
“He challenged me,” Zubac instructed The Instances in 2020. “I knew I bought to get to the states to work out for the groups to point out myself, however on the similar level, I used to be like, with every thing that’s ready for me, one of the best ways to point out myself is to assist this group qualify for Adriatic League and do all of the issues which might be required for me to win. I stored that in thoughts and was like, OK, it’s time to show it up.”
Milojevic was in his third season with the Warriors.
“Along with being a terrific basketball coach, Dejan was one of the optimistic and exquisite human beings I’ve ever identified, somebody who introduced pleasure and lightweight to each single day together with his ardour and power,” Kerr mentioned. “We grieve with and for his spouse, Natasa, and their youngsters, Niola and Masa. Their loss is unfathomable.”
