avatarFloyd Mori

Summary

Dejan Milojević, an assistant coach for the Golden State Warriors, died in Salt Lake City, Utah, after suffering a heart attack, leading to the postponement of the NBA game against the Utah Jazz.

Abstract

The basketball community was struck with grief when Dejan Milojević, a 46-year-old assistant coach for the Golden State Warriors, passed away unexpectedly due to a heart attack in Salt Lake City. The tragic event occurred on the eve of a scheduled game between the Warriors and the Utah Jazz, prompting the NBA to postpone the match. Milojević, who had a successful basketball career in Serbia before transitioning to coaching in 2012, was a respected mentor, including to two-time NBA MVP Nikola Jokic. His death has left the Warriors organization, fans, and the broader NBA family in shock and mourning. The Warriors had won the NBA championship in 2022 with Milojević as part of the coaching staff, making his loss even more profound. The games against the Jazz and the Dallas Mavericks have been rescheduled for a later date, with the Warriors next set to play at home against the Atlanta Hawks on January 24, 2024.

Opinions

  • The sudden passing of Dejan Milojević is described as a devastating loss for the Golden State Warriors, his family, and friends.
  • The NBA community, including teams, players, and coaches, has expressed deep sympathy and shock at the untimely death of the young coach.
  • The article emphasizes the uncertainty of life and the inevitability of death, acknowledging its impact on those left behind.
  • The postponement of the games is seen as a respectful gesture to honor the memory of the deceased coach and to allow the team time to grieve.

An NBA Assistant Coach Died In Salt Lake City, Utah

The Golden State Warriors were set to play the Utah Jazz

Photo by Amogh Manjunath on Unsplash

It was sad news for fans in California and for any caring person.

Utah Jazz basketball fans with tickets for the game and others who were planning to watch it on television were surprised when it was announced that there would be no game played that evening. It was reported that an assistant coach with the visiting Golden State Warriors was ill. Then the sad news came that he had died.

Photo by Markus Spiske on Unsplash

Tim Reynolds, AP Basketball Writer for The Associated Press wrote a story titled: “Warriors assistant coach Dejan Milojević, 46, dies in Salt Lake City after heart attack.”

Golden State Warriors assistant coach Dejan Milojević, a mentor to two-time NBA MVP Nikola Jokic and a former star player in his native Serbia, died Wednesday in Utah after suffering a heart attack, the team announced. Milojević, part of the staff that helped the Warriors win the 2022 NBA championship, was 46.

Milojević died in Salt Lake City, where he was hospitalized Tuesday night after the medical emergency happened during a private team dinner. The Warriors had been scheduled to play the Utah Jazz on Wednesday night, a game the NBA postponed.

Warriors’ coach Steve Kerr put out a statement for the team that they were absolutely devastated by the sudden passing of the coach. It was a shocking and tragic blow to the team, his family, and friends.

Milojevic had played basketball professionally in his native Serbia before becoming a coach in 2012. Kerr hired him as an assistant coach for the Warriors in August 2021. The Warriors won an NBA championship in 2022, which was the first season for Milojevic to serve as an assistant under Kerr.

The NBA family of teams, players, and coaches expressed sympathy at the sudden passing of Milojevic. Fans around the world are shocked and saddened at the untimely death of the 46 year old coach.

Life is uncertain. Almost no one knows when or how they will die, but everyone knows that death will come. It can be in old age or even when a person is still young. It brings sadness but is a part of life.

The games postponed against the Jazz and the Mavericks due to the death of Milojevic will be played at a later date. The Warriors are scheduled for a home game against the Atlanta Hawks on January 24, 2024.

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Death
Coach
NBA
Basketball
Sadness
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