"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."
The Warriors said Milojevic was taken to a Salt Lake City
hospital on Tuesday after suffering a heart attack at a private
team dinner but, despite life-saving efforts, died late
Wednesday morning.
Earlier, the NBA announced that the Warriors' game at the Utah
Jazz scheduled for later on Wednesday had been postponed because
of a "medical emergency in the Warriors family" and that a
makeup date would be announced at a later time.
The Utah Jazz were among the NBA teams who expressed their
condolences following the news of Milojevic's death, calling him
"a well-respected and beloved member of the NBA family."
Before joining the Warriors, Milojevic spent the 2021 season as
head coach of Buducnost in the Adriatic League in Montenegro.
Prior to that role, Milojevic was head coach for Mega Basket in
Belgrade, Serbia, for eight seasons.
In December 2019, Milojevic was named an assistant coach for the
Serbian national team under Igor Kokoskov.
Milojevic also enjoyed a 14-year international playing career
and was named the Adriatic League Most Valuable Player three
times (2004-06).
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver also released a statement on
Milojevic's death.
"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," said Silver.
"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."
(Reporting by Frank Pingue in Toronto, editing by Pritha Sarkar
and Toby Davis)
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