Golden State Warriors assistant coach Dejan Milojevic has died after suffering a heart attack in Salt Lake City on Tuesday night ahead of the team’s scheduled game against the Utah Jazz.
According to reports, Milojevic suffered the attack during a private team dinner and was taken to the hospital in critical condition, where he died on Wednesday. He was 46.
“We are absolutely devastated by Dejan Milojević’s sudden passing,” a statement from the Warriors read on social media. “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. We grieve with and for his wife, Natasa, and their children, Nikola and Masa.”
Milojevic was in his third season with the Warriors and had previously served as a head coach in Serbia and an assistant with the Serbian national team and the Summer League teams for the Houston Rockets, the Atlanta Hawks, and the San Antonio Spurs. He also played 14 years in the Adriatic League — winning three MVP awards.
The NBA has postponed the Warriors’ Wednesday game against Utah, and they are scheduled to host the Dallas Mavericks on Friday.
“The NBA mourns the sudden passing of Golden State assistant coach Dejan Milojevic, a beloved colleague and dear friend to so many in the global basketball community,” NBA Commissioner Adam Silver added in an official league statement. “In addition to winning the 2022 NBA championship in his first season with the Warriors and mentoring some of the best players in the world, Dejan had a decorated international playing career and was a distinguished head coach in his native Serbia. Our heartfelt condolences go out to his wife, Natasa, their children, Nikola and Masa, and the Warriors organization during this tragic time.”
