It was a sad day for the Golden State Warriors on Jan 16th. The team was having dinner in Salt Lake City and their assistant coach, Dejan Milojević, suddenly collapsed. It was ruled as cardiac arrest and the Warriors lost one of the most internationally renowned and celebrated coaches. Tonight, as the Warriors are back to where it all happened, Klay Thompson can barely hold his tears in as he talks about their beloved Deki.

After winning the matchup 129-107 vs the Jazz, Thompson tunes in for the post-game live. He says, “It’s very strange … The guy never had a bad day… A great father, great husband, and a better friend. I miss his presence, I miss talking about sailing with him and we think about him every time we put this uniform on.“

It was a day many in the league won’t forget, no matter how much they would like to rip the painful memory out. The Dubs had it the worst, of course, being present in the restaurant when the incident happened. To watch a man who was always there for them through thick and thin, “a friend first and a coach second,” just drop dead in front of their eyes and them being powerless to do anything to stop it.

Only those who have been through such a tragic situation can understand the effect it would have on the rest. Even then, Klay, as well as the rest of the Warriors, had a hard time accepting the fact that Dejan Milojević was really gone. But that’s a reality the team will have to accept sooner rather than later.

Milojevic is back to where it all started

While his Warriors were trying to use the traumatic night to fuel their drive to win tonight in Utah, Milojevic was back in his home. The Serbian native was buried at the Belgrade Cemetery on February 12, 2024. With hundreds of mourners present for the funeral, Deki’s near and dear ones said their final goodbyes on a rainy day.

“Still a Really Big Hole in Our Team”: Klay Thompson and Brandon Podziemski Mourn Dejan Milojevic’s Demise With Heartwarming Tributee

It seems like the Gods themselves couldn’t help but offer their condolences. After all, Dejan Milojević was one of the rare talents to be born. Aside from a decorated international career, the late Milojevic has also made his mark as a terrific coach. The most notable among his students are none other than fellow Serbian and one of the NBA’s dominant big men, Nikola Jokić.

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More than that, he has remained a loyal friend and inspiring coach in his time with the Warriors. Among those present for the funeral were HC Steve Kerr, GM Mike Dunleavy, business liaison Zaza Pachulia, and team VP for player health and performance Rick Celebrini.

As Thompson said, there won’t be a day that goes by without the Warriors remembering their beloved Deki! Many can only hope to be half the man he was.

Watch This Story: “Gave Me Chills…”: Klay Thompson Joins Stephen Curry and Other Warriors in Relishing Estranged Teammate’s Return