SALT LAKE CITY — Tragedy struck the Golden State Warriors on Wednesday morning as assistant coach Dejan Milojević passed away after experiencing a medical emergency the previous night. The team confirmed the devastating news, leaving the basketball community in shock.
The announcement was made by the Warriors' PR social media account at approximately 12:24 p.m., revealing that Milojević had succumbed to his condition earlier that morning.
Warriors Head Coach Steve Kerr expressed his profound grief over the loss, stating, "We are absolutely devastated by Dejan's sudden passing. This is a shocking and tragic blow for everyone associated with the Warriors and an incredibly difficult time for his family, friends, and all of us who had the incredible pleasure to work with him. In addition to being a terrific basketball coach, Dejan was one of the most positive and beautiful human beings I have ever known, someone who brought joy and light to every single day with his passion and energy. We grieve with and for his wife, Natasa, and their children, Nikola and Masa. Their loss is unfathomable."
The NBA has decided to postpone the game between the Warriors and the Utah Jazz due to the seriousness of the situation. The league has not yet announced a new date for the game.
Milojević, a 46-year-old coach, is currently in his third season with the Warriors. He was part of the coaching staff that helped the team win the 2022 NBA championship. Prior to his time with the Warriors, he coached in Serbia and Montenegro, and also served as an assistant coach for the Serbian national team. Milojević has previous NBA experience through Summer League stints with Atlanta, San Antonio, and Houston. As a player, he spent 14 years in the Adriatic League and was a three-time MVP.
The Utah Jazz have announced that tickets for the postponed game will be honored on the rescheduled date, which will be announced at a later time.
