“He Was Called the Serbian Charles Barkley”: Ernie Johnson & TNT Crew Pay Moving Tribute as Warriors Grieve Dejan Milojević’s Tragic Demise

Death is hard. Regardless of time, age, or circumstances, it is a harsh truth to accept. But losing someone suddenly, in the prime of their life, can be completely devastating. The NBA brotherhood went through something with irreparable consequences. Dejan Milojević of the Golden State Warriors, an assistant coach for 3 seasons, passed away after suffering a heart attack. As the whole community, players, and fans have come together to honor the incredible life, the TNT crew also had their thoughts to pitch in.

First, it was the calming presence of Ernie Johnson beginning the proceedings. “Condolences to the family of Golden State Warriors assistant coach Dejan Milojević. He suffered a heart attack at a team dinner on Tuesday in Salt Lake City, he died Wednesday. He was only 46. Dekkie, as he was known to his friends, was from Serbia. As a teenager, he was called the Serbian Charles Barkley. He played professionally in Europe, was a 3xtime MVP.” 

To the Warriors, he was irreplaceable. “A highly regarded coach, especially when it came to working with Big Men, including Nikola Jokic. He leaves behind a wife and 2 children. It is a loss, as Steve Kerr put it, that is unfathomable.” 

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The influence that the Serbian Charles Barkley had

The move to acquire Dejan was made for one key reason by the team in the Bay – to develop their 2nd overall pick, James Wiseman. Unfortunately, that experiment did not come to fruition. But that hasn’t led to a successful tenure for him.

Instead of Wiseman, Milojević was crucial in Kevon Looney’s turning into an indispensable role player for the team. Moreover, it was Kevon’s development alongside Stephen Curry being Stephen Curry that got the team its 2022 Championship, as well as the playoff series victory over the Sacramento Kings in 2023.

Under him, rookie Trayce Jackson-Davis has quickly blossomed into a valuable addition to the team. But it wasn’t just the Golden State that felt the Serbian’s impact. The Toronto Raptors ran their first play straight out of his playbook after learning of the incident.

The bond between the NBA family is infinite and ever-present. Perhaps these tributes and Golden State’s development can serve as a small reminder and testament to Dekkie’s impact. Rest in peace.

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