Golden State Warriors will have Dejan Milojevic’s initials on their jerseys and court for the rest of the season in tribute to the Serbian coach after his shock death last week

The Golden State Warriors will wear “DM” patches on their jerseys for the remainder of the NBA season in tribute to coach Dejan Milojevic, who tragically passed away last week.

The Serbian assistant coach suffered a heart attack while dining in Salt Lake City with his fellow Warriors coaches and some players before the game against the Jazz.

The incident took place at Valter’s Osteria, a popular Italian eatery frequented by NBA teams, and the Warriors had two games postponed in the days after the incident.

Milojevic, 46, was part of the coaching staff that helped the Warriors win the 2022 NBA championship.

In tribute, Steve Kerr’s team will also have “DM” painted on the field for all remaining home games at the Chase Center.

Their jerseys will have “DM” in the shape of a heart on them for the rest of the season, as a tribute to their coach

“It’s hard to describe the week: heartbreaking, devastating,” Kerr said This was told by journalists on Monday while wearing a shirt that said “BROTHER” in Serbian. “It’s just the saddest thing I’ve ever been a part of in the NBA.

‘Where we lose someone so close to us and, more importantly, see his family suffer. So last week was full of all of the above. The shock, the emotion, the extreme outpouring of love from all over the world.

“He was just a guy who constantly saw the good in people and the joy in life… when you get into a season that lasts from seven to nine months, that’s exactly the kind of person I want to be with every day, Kerr later added Milojevic.

“We got a better sense of what Deki meant to his fellow countrymen,” Kerr said.

Toronto Raptors coach Darko Rajakovic, who is also Serbian, dedicated his team’s victory last Wednesday to his late friend.

And reigning NBA champion Nikola Jokic also paid tribute to Milojevic, posting a photo of himself with the coach and writing: “Deki, rest in peace! Condolences to the family!’

Kerr, who lost his own father when he was 18 years old, said he understood what Milojevic’s children, Nikola and Masa, were going through.

The Serbian assistant coach suffered a heart attack in Salt Lake City during a dinner with coaches

“It’s a bit strange, but Friday marked the fortieth anniversary of my father’s death,” he says told reporters.

Kerr added that “Deki had a great way of being very direct and honest without threatening anyone. Sometimes those coaches’ meetings can get controversial… he always had a gleam in his eye and a smile, even when he was challenging us – especially when he was challenging the rest of the group.”

Warriors big man Kevon Looney also said‘His English wasn’t always the best, so he didn’t know how to soften anything. Every time I wasn’t aggressive, I wasn’t rebounding or boxing – it’s a curse word, but he said, “Don’t be soft.”

“I always told him, ‘You’re the only person I let talk to me like that.’

Kerr also thanked NBA Commissioner Adam Silver for postponing two Warriors games last week after Milojevic’s death.

“There’s no way any of us could walk onto the court and play a basketball game,” he said.

The Warriors’ next game is Wednesday against the Hawks.