In a disheartening event for the Golden State Warriors, they announced a week ago their beloved Warriors assistant coach, Dejan Milojević, passed away at 46.
The Warriors paid tribute to Dejan Milojević ahead of tonight's game 💙
(via @espn) pic.twitter.com/LTPHDBJEbF
— Sports Illustrated (@SInow) January 25, 2024
He passed away after experiencing a heart attack at a private team dinner in Salt Lake City, following The Warriors postponed their next two games, against the Jazz and the Mavericks.
On Wednesday night, when the Hawks visit the Warriors, they will pay homage as their hosts mourn their loss of a man who meant much to the Warrior organization.
Marked as an emotional night as the Warriors played their first game on Wednesday since the death of their assistant coach Dejan ‘Deki’.
Ahead of the matchup, both the team paid tribute to their friend and colleague before and during the game. All the Warriors players wore jerseys with a special “DM” patch on the upper left side in honor of Milojevic.
That same DM logo in a heart was also unveiled on the Chase Center court, which will stay up for the rest of the year. The Warriors resumed practice on Monday of this week, Stephen Curry shared in a press conference,
“Very difficult times all around, just knowing the shock of what happened and the suddenness of it. So a lot of emotions, a lot of sadness. And then you try to find ways to carry the spirit, that Deki had and lived every single day, into how you move forward, knowing we have to get back to work. We’re trying to do it in a way that, you know, is a safe space for everybody to, you know, take care of themselves.”
Coach Milojević was in his third season with the Warriors and was a member of the coaching staff that helped bring the team to win the 2022 NBA Championship.
