The NBA community mourns the untimely death of 46-year-old Golden State Warriors assistant coach, Dejan Milojevic, who suffered a fatal heart attack during a team dinner in Utah. The announcement came from the franchise, revealing the shocking news. Coming from Serbia, Milojevic began his coaching journey in his homeland. Apart from being a renowned coach, he played professionally in Spain and Turkey.

He joined the Warriors as an assistant coach in 2021 and played a crucial role for the franchise in leading them to victory in the 2022 NBA championship. Moreover, he is credited for the surge in Kevon Looney’s rebounding, which has become a major part of his game for the franchise.

Darko Rajakovic, before the Toronto Raptors game against the Miami Heat, shared his deep sorrow over the passing of Dejan Milojevic. Expressing condolences to Milojevic’s wife and children, Rajakovic reminisced about the strong bond he shared with the assistant coach. “I knew Dejan since I was a teenager. He was a role model as a player, as a man, as a husband, as a coach,” Rajakovic reflected. Additionally, from the personal bond he had with Dejan, Darko revealed that Dejan harbored a dream of becoming the head coach of the Serbian national team someday.

Rajakovic also stated that Milojevic helped many players take the next step in their careers. Earlier, Milojevic had served as an assistant coach for the Serbian national team. He played a pivotal role in the development of numerous players, who came to the NBA with star potential from Europe. His work includes closely working with Nikola Jokic, the current finals MVP in the league.

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Beyond his 2022 NBA championship contribution, Dejan boasted a decorated international playing career. As a result of the tragic event, the Warriors’ game against the Jazz has been postponed, with the rescheduled date yet to be announced.

Milojevic’s journey to become Warriors’ assistant coach

In 2009, Dejan officially retired his jersey as a professional player. However, his passion for the game endured. Three years later, he transitioned to coaching, initially joining Mega Basket in the Adriatic Basketball Association (ABA).

It was there that he coached Jokic. In the 2015–16 season, Dejan steered Mega to their first trophy in the Serbian Cup, marking a historic milestone with their first appearance in the ABA League finals.

His coaching journey continued to glitter with achievements. In 2021, Dejan added the Montenegrin Cup and Montenegrin League titles to his repertoire while coaching Buducnost. Additionally, from December 2019 to September 2021, he lived a glimpse of his dream job, assisting head coach Igor Kokoskov on the Serbian National Team.

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August 2021 saw the Golden State Warriors eagerly embracing Dejan as their assistant coach, securing him with a multiyear deal. In his time with the Warriors, Dejan Milojevic left an indelible mark on the franchise.