The Golden State Warriors’ game against the Dallas Mavericks on Friday night has been postponed due to the death of their assistant coach Dejan Milojevic.
Milojevic died Wednesday in Utah after suffering a heart attack during a dinner with his fellow Warriors coaches and several players on Tuesday evening.
The 46-year-old was part of the staff that helped the Warriors win the 2022 NBA Championship.
The Warriors were scheduled to play the Utah Jazz on Wednesday night, a game that the NBA postponed.
And now their second game of the week has been canceled, while Friday’s game against Dallas has been postponed, according to NBA insider Shams Charania.
The Golden State Warriors’ game against the Dallas Mavericks on Friday night has been postponed due to the death of their assistant coach Dejan Milojevic
“We are absolutely devastated by Dejan’s sudden passing,” coach Steve Kerr said in a team statement.
“This is a shocking and tragic blow to everyone involved with the Warriors and an incredibly difficult time for his family, friends and all of us who had the incredible pleasure of working with him.”
Milojevic’s death sparked a huge and immediate outpouring of sympathy from the basketball community, and moments of silence were held on Wednesday before NBA games.
Miami Heat coach Erik Spoelstra called the news “horrific.” Atlanta forward Bogdan Bogdanovic – a Serb, like Milojevic – politely declined comment before the Hawks’ game on Wednesday, saying: ‘I’m sorry. I can’t talk about it now. I feel so bad,” tapping his chest.
San Antonio coach Gregg Popovich raved about how good coach Milojevic was.
“You changed my life in such a short time,” Warriors rookie Brandin Podziemski wrote on social media.
“The most important thing you ever told me was just to laugh!” Your joy and laughter will be forever missed. Shine down on us from heaven.”
Milojevic was in his third season with the Warriors.
He previously coached in Serbia – where he mentored two-time NBA MVP Nikola Jokic – along with Montenegro, and was an assistant coach for the Serbian national team alongside current Atlanta assistant Igor Koskoskov.
More to follow.