The Golden State Warriors have confirmed that assistant coach Dejan Milojevic died at the age of 46 due to a heart attack.
Serbian Milojevic became ill during a private team dinner on Tuesday and was taken to the hospital in Salt Lake City, Utah.
The Warriors stated that “despite life-saving efforts,” Milojevic died late Wednesday morning.
Head coach Steve Kerr stated that his assistant “brought joy and light to every single day with his passion.”.
Kerr described the news as a “shocking and tragic blow,” claiming Milojevic was “one of the most positive and beautiful human beings” he had ever met.
He added, “We mourn with and for his wife Natasa and their two children, Nikola and Masa.
“Their loss is unfathomable.”
Dejan Milojevic joined Golden State in 2021 and was a member of the coaching staff that guided the Warriors to the NBA title in 2022
The Warriors stated on X, formerly Twitter, that they are “absolutely devastated” by Milojevic’s sudden death.
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver described Milojevic as a “beloved colleague and dear friend to so many in the global basketball community.”
The former professional player joined Golden State in 2021 and was a member of the coaching staff that guided the Warriors to the NBA title in 2022.
Milojevic, who was born in Belgrade, spent 14 years with the Serbian international team before becoming assistant coach in December 2019.
Before joining the Warriors three years ago, he was the head coach of KK Buducnost in Montenegro’s Adriatic League.
The Warriors were scheduled to play the Utah Jazz on Wednesday, but the NBA postponed the game when Milojevic’s medical emergency was announced.