The Warriors were fortunate to have a Serbian coach, who also had an amazing career as a player, leading their team for three seasons. His expertise and guidance played a pivotal role in their victorious path towards clinching the highly coveted NBA championship in 2022.
Dejan Milojević, an assistant coach for the Golden State Warriors, passed away at the age of 46. The renowned coach and former player suffered a heart attack while the team was at a private dinner before their game against the Utah Jazz. In a statement, Warriors head coach Steve Kerr expressed his profound shock and sadness over the sudden loss, describing Dejan as not only an exceptional basketball coach but also a remarkable human being who brought positivity and light to every day. The entire Warriors organization joins in mourning his death and extends their deepest condolences to Dejan’s wife, Natasa, and their children, Nikola and Masa.
Dejan had been serving as an assistant coach for the Warriors for three seasons, contributing to their victory in the 2022 NBA championship. Before joining the Warriors, he held coaching positions with KK Budućnost in Montenegro and KK Mega Basket in Serbia. Dejan also had experience working with various NBA teams, including the Atlanta Hawks, San Antonio Spurs, and Houston Rockets during the NBA Summer League. Known for his impressive international playing career spanning 14 years, Dejan had the opportunity to coach two-time NBA MVP Nikola Jokic during his early development.
The NBA postponed the game between the Warriors and the Jazz following the news of Dejan’s passing, expressing empathy for the “Warriors family.” A new date for the game will be announced in due course.