Dejan Milojević, who helped Nikola Jokic become NBA star, dies at 46

SALT LAKE CITY — Warriors assistant coach Dejan Milojević has died at the age of 46 in Salt Lake City after suffering a heart attack Tuesday night at a private team dinner.

He was pronounced dead Wednesday morning, the team announced.

Milojević had been with the Warriors since 2021 by way of Serbia, where he was regarded as a basketball titan for his decorated playing career and having helped develop NBA MVP Nikola Jokić of the Denver Nuggets. He worked with the Warriors’ centers such as Kevon Looney, Trayce Jackson-Davis, Dario Sarić and was credited for helping Looney improve his rebounding en route to the Warriors’ 2022 championship.

“We are absolutely devastated by Dejan’s sudden passing,” Warriors Head Coach Steve Kerr said in a team 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.

“In addition to being a terrific basketball coach, Dejan was one of the most positive and beautiful human beings I have ever known, someone who 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. Their loss is unfathomable.”

Milojevic was born in Belgrade and played for 14 years in Europe, including Serbia, Spain, Montenegro and Turkey from 1994 until 2009. He won three Adriatic League MVP awards (2004-2006) during his playing career with Budućnost (Podgorica, Montenegro) and Partizan (Belgrade, Serbia) and represented Serbia and Montenegro internationally.

He served as head coach of the Serbian team Mega Vizura from 2012 to 2020 and, through that time, oversaw 11 of his players drafted to the NBA from Jokic to Clippers center Ivica Zubac.