SAD NEWS: The Warriors vs. Mavericks game has been rescheduled due to the passing of assistant coach….

SAD NEWS: The Warriors vs. Mavericks game has been rescheduled due to the passing of assistant coach….

The NBA confirmed on Thursday that the Warriors assistant coach Dejan Milojević passed away, leading to the postponement of Friday night’s scheduled game between the Dallas Mavericks and the Warriors.

A subsequent announcement will be made on the new date of the game.

Milojević, a former top player in his home Serbia and mentor to two-time NBA MVP Nikola Jokic, passed away in Utah on Wednesday following a heart attack. Milojević was a member of the team that assisted the Warriors in their 2022 NBA title victory. 46 was his age.

Milojević passed away on Tuesday night in Salt Lake City, when he was admitted to the hospital following a medical emergency that occurred at a private team meal.

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Dejan Milojević, 46, a Warriors assistant coach, passes away in Salt Lake City following a heart attack.

Tuesday, March 28, 2023, in San Francisco, before an NBA basketball game against the New Orleans Pelicans, Golden State Warriors assistant coach Dejan Milojevic passes the ball. On Wednesday, January 17, 2024, the Golden State Warriors announced that assistant coach Dejan Milojević had a medical issue on Tuesday night and was admitted to the hospital in Salt Lake City. The NBA decided to postpone Wednesday’s Warriors vs. Utah Jazz game due to the gravity of the situation.

The Golden State Warriors said that assistant coach Dejan Milojević, who was a former standout player in his home Serbia and a mentor to two-time NBA MVP Nikola Jokic, passed away in Utah on Wednesday due to a heart attack. Milojević, 46, was a member of the team that assisted the Warriors in winning the NBA title in 2022.

Milojević passed away on Tuesday night in Salt Lake City, when he was admitted to the hospital following a medical emergency that occurred at a private team meal. The NBA postponed the Warriors’ scheduled Wednesday night matchup against the Utah Jazz.

Coach Steve Kerr said in a team statement, “We are absolutely grieved by Dejan’s unexpected passing. “This is an extremely difficult time for his family, friends, and all of us who had the incredible pleasure of working with him. It is a shocking and tragic blow for everyone associated with the Warriors.”

The basketball world immediately expressed deep sorrow over Milojević’s passing, and moments of silence were observed on Wednesday before to NBA games. Erik Spoelstra, the coach of the Miami Heat, described the news as “horrific.” Like Milojević, Atlanta forward Bogdan Bogdanovic is a Serbian. He graciously declined to talk on Wednesday prior to the Hawks game, expressing regret. I am unable to discuss it at this time. “I’m so sorry,” he said, patting his chest. Gregg Popovich, the coach of San Antonio, was gushing over Milojević’s coaching abilities.

In a short period of time, you transformed my life,” Warriors rookie Brandin Podziemski posted on social media. “Simply smiling is the most important thing you have ever told me!” Your laughter and love will always be missed. Look down from heaven upon us.

Milojević was a three-year member of the Warriors. Before Jokic, the current Denver Nuggets star, moved to the United States, he had worked as a coach in Serbia and Montenegro. He had also coached the Serbian national team as an assistant coach alongside current Atlanta assistant Igor Koskoskov.

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver expressed his condolences for the unexpected death of Golden State assistant coach Dejan Milojević, who was a cherished friend and colleague to many in the world of basketball.

During his stint as a coach in Europe, Milojević collaborated closely with a number of players, including Jokic, Ivica Zubac of the Los Angeles Clippers, Goga Bitadze of Orlando, and Boban Marjanovic of Houston. He mostly worked with big men like Kevon Looney during his time with the Warriors, and Looney praised Milojević’s attention to detail.

Peace be with you, Deki. Luka Doncic, a standout for the Dallas Mavericks, posted on social media.

Kerr claimed that Kent Lacob, the son of Golden State owner Joe Lacob, was the one who first introduced him to Milojević. Additionally, Kerr made the decision to go after Milojević in 2021 after the Warriors had significant personnel adjustments. After considerable persuasion, Milojević accepted the offer. Kerr was ecstatic.

“I knew right away what Kent was talking about,” Kerr remarked in a Warriors film from the previous year. It was a pleasure to be around him. In addition, he had an incredible background in basketball as a coach and player. Bringing Deki in was a logical decision.

When the 6-foot-7, 240-pound power forward was at the height of his playing career, in 2004, 2005, and 2006, Milojević earned three straight MVP honours in the Adriatic League. In 2015, Jokic won the league MVP award, one year after current Golden State forward Dario Saric did.