Warriors assistant coach Milojevic dies

MIAMI – Golden State Warriors assistant coach Dejan Milojevic has died at the age of 46 after suffering a heart attack at a team dinner in Salt Lake City, the NBA team said on Wednesday (Thursday Manila time).

The Serbian coach, who played in Spain and Turkey as well as his homeland, where he began his coaching career, had joined the Warriors as an assistant in 2021.

He was part of the staff on the team which won the NBA championship in 2022.

The Warriors said that "despite life saving efforts" he passed away late on Wednesday morning after collapsing Tuesday night at the private dinner in Utah, where the Warriors had been scheduled to play the Jazz on Wednesday night.

"We are absolutely devastated by Dejan's sudden passing," said Warriors Head Coach Steve Kerr.

"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.

"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.

"We grieve with and for his wife, Natasa, and their children, Nikola and Masa. Their loss is unfathomable."

Toronto Raptors' Serbian head coach Darko Rajakovic said Milojevic had been a major influence on him and many others.

"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," he told reporters.

Milojevic had been an assistant coach for the Serbian national team and worked during his time in Europe with a number of future NBA stars, including compatriot Nikola Jokic, the two-time NBA Most Valuable Player who led the Denver Nuggets to the NBA title last year.

"A lot of NBA players went through his hands and his influence. He helped a lot of guys to make the next step in their career," said Rajakovic.

"Last time we were together, he was talking about...his dream of one day being a head coach of Serbia national team.

"We were talking about plans and all of that. Unfortunately, he's not with us anymore to share dreams and goals," added the Toronto coach.

NBA commissioner Adam Silver said Milojevic was "a beloved colleague and dear friend to so many in the global basketball community.

"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," Silver noted.

The Warriors' game against the Jazz was postponed to a date yet to be announced.