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SALT LAKE CITY — The NBA has postponed Wednesday night's game between the Golden State Warriors and the Utah Jazz at the Delta Center after a Warriors assistant coach died Wednesday morning.
The game was originally postponed early Wednesday due to what the NBA called "a medical emergency in the Warriors family" after a private dinner Tuesday night with players and coaches in Salt Lake City.
The news came hours after the Warriors announced that assistant coach Dejan Milojevic, 46, had been hospitalized Tuesday night in Salt Lake City, but announced Wednesday afternoon that "despite life-saving efforts," Milojevic suffered a heart attack and died late Wednesday morning.
"We are absolutely devastated by Dejan's passing," Warriors head coach Steve Kerr said in a statement. "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.
Kerr said Milojevic was "one of the most positive and beautiful human beings I have ever known," while adding that he was a "terrific" basketball coach. He said Milojevic brought "joy and light to every single day with his passion and energy."
"We grieve with and for his wife, Natasa, and their children, Nikola and Masa," Kerr added. "Their loss is unfathomable."
A Warriors spokesman told the San Francisco Chronicle that the team's mood was "shaken." The team canceled its morning shootaround as players spent time at the hospital with Milojevic. The team is scheduled to play Dallas Friday night.
Milojevic, a native of Belgrade, spent three season with the Warriors as an assistant coach after spending the 2021 season as the head coach of KK Buducnost in the Adriatic League in Montenegro. He played 14 years in international basketball and was named the Adriatic League MVP three times from 2004-06.
"The Utah Jazz organization expresses our deepest condolences following the tragic passing of Golden State Warriors assistant coach Dejan Milojevic," the Jazz said in a statement. "Our thoughts are with his family, friends, and the entire Warriors family during this difficult time. Milojevic was a well-respected and beloved member of the NBA family. We join the Warriors, the NBA, and basketball fans everywhere in mourning this incredible loss. He will be greatly missed."
A date for the rescheduled game has not been determined. The Jazz said that "all tickets for tonight's game will be honored for the rescheduled game." The Jazz will next play Thursday against the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Our hearts go out to Milojevic family and the entire Warriors organization. 🙏🏼🙏🏼
— Ryan Smith (@RyanQualtrics) January 17, 2024
