Warriors Assistant Dejan Milojevic Dies at 46 After Medical Emergency

Golden State Warriors assistant coach Dejan Milojević died Wednesday morning at the age of 46 after suffering a heart attack on Tuesday night, the team confirmed in a statement.

Milojević suffered what was described as a “medical emergency” during a team dinner Tuesday in Salt Lake City ahead of the team’s matchup with the Utah Jazz on Wednesday night. The game was postponed earlier Wednesday as the Warriors tended to the serious health issue surrounding Milojević.

Milojević enjoyed a 15-year professional career overseas from 1994-2009 in Serbia, Spain, Montenegro and Turkey. He joined the Warriors as an assistant coach in 2021 after several coaching stints overseas. It was his first position as an assistant coach in the NBA.

“We are absolutely devastated by Dejan’s sudden passing,” Warriors 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. 

“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.”

Golden State is scheduled to play the Dallas Mavericks on Friday night at home. It remains to be seen if that game will be played as scheduled in the wake of Milojević’s sudden passing.