Dejan Milojevic, a hulking EuroLeague icon who became a big man whisperer in Europe before joining the Warriors staff as an assistant coach, died suddenly on Wednesday morning. He was 46 years old.
Milojevic was hospitalized overnight in Salt Lake City after suffering a heart attack during a private team dinner. The Warriors had been set to face the Jazz on Wednesday evening. After news of Milojevic’s condition, the league opted to postpone the matchup.
“We are absolutely devastated by Dejan’s sudden passing,” Warriors head coach Steve Kerr said in a statement. “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 are absolutely devastated by Dejan Milojević’s sudden passing.
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… pic.twitter.com/0wExlLlu5z
— Golden State Warriors (@warriors) January 17, 2024
An undersized power forward whose game earned him comparisons to Charles Barkley, Milojevic enjoyed a 16-year playing career in which he suited up for some of Europe’s biggest sides. Milojevic captured three straight Adriatic League MVP awards as a member of Partizan Belgrade, perhaps Serbia’s biggest side.
A Belgrade native, Milojevic took his talents to the sideline after hanging up his sneakers back in 2009. He was named Mega Basket’s head coach in 2012. And in nine years at Ranko Zeravica Sports Hall, 11 of Milojevic’s prodigies were drafted into the NBA, including two-time MVP Nikola Jokic.
With that track record, it was only a matter of time for the NBA to come knocking for Milojevic. After one season with Montenegrin side Buducnost, Milojevic traveled across the ocean to join Steve Kerr’s staff in San Francisco. Brought in to help nurture former No. 2 overall selection James Wiseman, Milojevic played a critical role in shaping the play of many a Golden State big, namely rebounding starlet Kevon Looney.
A basketball lifer with a passion for the game only matched by a love of his players, Milojevic leaves behind a wife, Natasa, and two children, Nikola and Masa.
“I teach all my players that basketball is not a job, but that they should enjoy the game,” Milojević told Bosnian radio-television outlet RTV in a 2018 interview. “Because if you want to do something for the next 20 years, then you have to love it a lot. It’s not easy to endure all these efforts if you don’t like something. Only those who have a sincere love for the game can handle everything with great success.”
NBA world mourns Dejan Milojevic’s passing
The basketball world was united in grief after learning of Milojevic’s death, with some of the game’s biggest stars paying tribute to one of the sport’s more beloved figures.
My thoughts and prayers go out to Coach Milojević’s family and to the entire Golden State organization. A terrible loss for the NBA community 🙏🏽 https://t.co/wOw31vYoJB
— Karl-Anthony Towns (@KarlTowns) January 17, 2024
My most sincere condolences to Dejan Milojevic’s family, friends and everybody at the @warriors organization, what a tragic loss. May his memory be a blessing, rest in peace 🙏🏼 https://t.co/LO4yQSLrlN
— Pau Gasol (@paugasol) January 17, 2024
Awful news today.. My deepest condolences to Coach Milojevic’s family and the Warriors organization..
— Lauri Markkanen (@MarkkanenLauri) January 17, 2024
Tragic. Prayers to his family 💔🙏🏽 https://t.co/oeyFlPyYZW
— Nicolas Batum (@nicolas88batum) January 17, 2024
R.I.P 😔😔💔 pic.twitter.com/6lgLhduv35
— Jusuf Nurkić 🇧🇦 (@bosnianbeast27) January 17, 2024
Pocivaj u miru Deki 🙏😔 pic.twitter.com/ar6tUFPDUS
— Bogdan Bogdanovic (@LeaderOfHorde) January 17, 2024
Damn dude 💔😔🙏🏽
— Damion Lee (@Dami0nLee) January 17, 2024
You changed my life in such a short time. The most important thing you ever told me was to just smile! Your joy and laughs will forever be missed. Shine down on us from heaven. Rest In Peace Dejan Milojević ❤️ https://t.co/ZpHQFCQ3f4
— Brandin Podziemski (@brandinpodziem2) January 17, 2024
Vasilije Micic shows his love and gratitude to his former head coach Dejan Milojević. pic.twitter.com/np3flcUNv5
— Brandon Rahbar (@BrandonRahbar) January 17, 2024
We are deeply saddened by the loss of Coach Dejan Milojević. Our thoughts are with his family and friends as well as the entire Warriors organization. pic.twitter.com/XlvdKYJTj1
— Denver Nuggets (@nuggets) January 17, 2024
Rest in peace, Deki 🙏
Dejan Milojevic, Golden State Warriors assistant coach and former Serbian National Team assistant coach, tragically passed away. Coach Milojevic will be dearly missed by all. pic.twitter.com/h0tdI0o4X2
— FIBA (@FIBA) January 17, 2024
We send our deepest condolences to the family and friends of Dejan Milojevic, who passed away after suffering a heart attack 🕊️
REST IN PEACE, COACH 🙏🥺 pic.twitter.com/wIS5joPYdu
— AS Monaco Basket EN (@asmonaco_en) January 17, 2024
Serbian coach Dejan Milojevic passed away at 46 years. Former EuroLeague player had been hospitalized after suffering a heart attack. Rest in peace! 🙏 pic.twitter.com/NCWjxFQIui
— BC Zalgiris Kaunas (@bczalgiris) January 17, 2024
DEJAN MILOJEVIĆ.🕊️🖤🤍#KKPartizan pic.twitter.com/gfsYxS4Qga
— KK Partizan Mozzart Bet (@PartizanBC) January 17, 2024
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