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USA Today via Reuters

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USA Today via Reuters

On Wednesday, the Golden State Warriors shocked the NBA community by announcing the tragic passing of their assistant coach, Dejan Milojevic. The 46-year-old experienced a heart attack during a team dinner days ago in Utah, which ultimately led to his untimely demise. The initial medical emergency occurred in Salt Lake City, where Milojevic was taken to a hospital after a heart attack struck him during a private team dinner.

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Despite valiant life-saving efforts, Milojevic succumbed on Wednesday morning. His sudden loss has sent ripples of grief through the franchise – teammates, coaching staff, and other faces across the league mourn the loss, leaving a somber atmosphere in the basketball community.

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Adam Silver and the NBA world unite in their loss

The Golden State Warriors took to their Twitter handle to share the initial pieces of the somber news with their fans, expressing their deep sorrow over the loss of Dejan. They stood in solidarity with his wife and two children during this difficult time.

In a show of support for the Warriors franchise and the memory of the late Serbian, the league has postponed the scheduled game between the Utah Jazz and the Dubs due to take place today. In the wake of their postponed game, the atmosphere at the Celtics’ TD Garden was muted, as poignant moments of silence were observed in his honor.

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@NBAPR, the league’s direct source of news, also officially announced the heartbreaking passing. The league extended its deepest sympathies to the coach’s family, acknowledging his significant contributions to both the NBA and global basketball. The release, signed by Adam Silver, highlighted Milojevic’s monumental impact on the sport, concluding with “heartfelt condolences” for the grieving family and the Warriors organization.

Echoing a similar sentiment, the Denver Nuggets posted a heartfelt tribute featuring a smiling photo of Milojevic holding a basketball. Steve Kerr, the Warriors’ head coach, previously emphasized the joy and light that Dejan brought to the team each day.

In a touching tribute, Brandin Podziemski reflected on how the coach had positively transformed his life in a short time. Crediting Milojevic for instilling the valuable lesson to “always smile,” the guard expressed a hope that the coach’s blessings would continue to guide them.

Sacramento Kings‘ Head Coach, Mike Brown, echoed the somber sentiments. He then reflects on Dejan’s image of being loved and maintaining strong bonds across the league.

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While emphasizing the importance of moving forward, Brown acknowledged that news of this nature calls for a more delicate approach, recognizing that time should not be a constraint in coping with the loss.

Before the Miami Heat‘s game against the Toronto Raptors, Erik Spoelstra also addressed the collective grief. He affirms that the Heat organization holds the coach’s family in their thoughts and prayers.

The NBA community comes together to mourn the loss of a great mind, a coach whose impact extended far beyond the court.

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Saahil Dhillan

1,046 Articles

Saahil Dhillan is an NBA Writer at EssentiallySports who discovered his basketball passion through the dynamic between Miami's LeBron James and Dwyane Wade. Years later, Kobe Bryant reignited his love, transforming him into an extensive contributor who savors the matches, covers games live, analyzes post-game pressers, and reports on injuries. With his stories, he aims at making readers feel the intense drama unfolding on the court every day. His inclination towards the sporting world fits him right into our News Center. Beyond the scoreboard, Saahil remains on the lookout for quant frames, all while navigating the humorous tantrums of his dogs and their four-legged co-stars.

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Sameen Nawathe

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