For example, Dejan Milojevic worked with current NBA superstar Nikola Jokic.
Assistant coach of NBA club Golden State Warriors by Dejan Milojevic the sudden death has shocked the basketball world.
Serbia’s Milojevic died after suffering a heart attack at a team dinner during an away game in Salt Lake City. He was 46 years old when he died.
The Warriors were scheduled to face off Lauri Markkanen represented by the Utah Jazz early on Thursday Finnish time, but the match was cancelled.
Golden State Warriors rookie point guard Brandin Podziemski paid tribute to his deceased coach in the message service X.
– You changed my life in such a short time. Remember to smile, that was the most important thing you said to me. We will miss your joy and laughter. Shine on us from heaven, Podziemski wrote.
“This is a shocking and tragic blow to the entire Warriors community and an incredibly difficult time for his family, loved ones and all of us who had the incredible pleasure of working with him,” Golden State coach Steve Kerr said in a statement released by the team.
Milojevic made his own playing career in Europe and moved to coach the Warriors in the summer of 2021. He was part of the club’s coaching team when the team won the 2022 NBA championship.
Commissioner of the NBA Adams Silver said in a statement that, in addition to his accomplishments, Milojevic was a beloved colleague and good friend to many in the basketball community.
– He mentored some of the best players in the world, had a great international playing career and was a respected head coach in his home country of Serbia, Silver wrote.
Milojevic has worked with, for example, the superstar of the Denver Nuggets Nikola Jokic together with the KK Mega Basket team in Serbia.
– Deki, Rest in peace. Condolences to your family, Jokic wrote.
The Utah Jazz expressed their condolences and support to Milojevic’s family, friends and club.
– Milojevic was a very respected and loved member of the NBA family. We join the Warriors, NBA and basketball fans in mourning this unimaginable loss. He will be missed a lot, Utah’s X account wrote.
– Terrible news today. My deepest condolences to coach Milojevic’s family and the Warriors organization, Markkanen wrote.
Milojevic’s compatriot, head coach of NBA club Toronto Raptors Darko Rajakovic recalled his friend at the press conference.
– I knew him since I was a teenager. He was a role model as a player, man, husband and coach, Rajakovic said.
Corrected at 9:01 a.m.: Milojevic worked with Nikola Jokic in KK Mega Basket, not Luka Doncic.