Dejan Milojević, Golden State Warriors assistant coach, dies at 46

Golden State Warriors assistant coach Dejan Milojević died Wednesday after suffering a heart attack while at a private team dinner in Salt Lake City the day before, the Warriors said.

"We are absolutely devastated by Dejan's sudden passing," Warriors coach Steve Kerr announced on Wednesday. "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."

Milojević, 46, had travelled to Salt Lake City Monday with the Warriors for their face-off against Utah Jazz on Wednesday, USA Today reported.

However, the game was postponed by the National Basketball Association (NBA) following Milojević's untimely death and will be rescheduled.

In a statement, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said: “The NBA mourns the sudden passing of Golden State assistant coach Dejan Milojević, a beloved colleague and dear friend to so many in the global basketball community."

Silver recalled Milojević's 2022 NBA championship victory and praised his mentorship of some of the best players in the world.

The Serbian coach, who previously served as head coach in Montenegro and Serbia, joined the Warriors coaching staff in 2021.

He was a three-time Adriatic Basketball Association MVP and won a gold medal for Serbia and Montenegro at the 2001 Eurobasket.

He also served as an assistant coach for Serbia's national team and coached a young Nikola Jokic in Serbia, long before any saw Jokic as a two-time MVP who could lead a team to an NBA championship.

Jokic paid tribute to his former coach, posting on Instagram, "Rest in Peace. Condolences to the family."