Following the tragic death of assistant coach Dejan Milojević, the NBA has decided to postpone a second Golden State Warriors game. The league announced that the matchup against the Dallas Mavericks, originally scheduled for Friday, will be rescheduled to a later date.
Milojević, aged 46, passed away on Wednesday in Salt Lake City after being hospitalized the previous night due to a heart attack. The Warriors’ game against the Utah Jazz, initially set for Wednesday, was also postponed prior to the confirmation of Milojević’s death.
The basketball community responded with a massive and immediate outpouring of sympathy upon learning of Milojević’s passing. Moments of silence were observed before NBA games on Wednesday, and Mavericks star Luka Doncic paid tribute to Milojević on social media, writing “Rest in peace, Deki.”
The NBA is postponing the Warriors-Mavericks game on Friday after the death of Golden State assistant coach Dejan Milojevic. pic.twitter.com/mIFuMMIDMI
— Malika Andrews (@malika_andrews) January 18, 2024
Milojević, in his third season with the Warriors, played a key role in the team’s 2022 NBA championship. Before joining the coaching staff, he had a notable career as a three-time MVP in the Adriatic League. Milojević also gained coaching experience in Serbia, where he worked with a young Nikola Jokic, and Montenegro. Additionally, he participated in summer league stints with various NBA teams before being hired by the Warriors in 2021.
As of now, no specific date has been announced for the rescheduling of the postponed games.