It was with great shock that the NBA world received the news of Dejan Milojević’s sudden demise. Serving as an assistant coach to the Warriors, he was with the team for a private dinner in Salt Lake City when he suffered a heart attack. Despite all the efforts to save his life, Milojevic left this world at the age of 46. 

Heartfelt condolence messages are flowing from all around the world. Players and coaches alike were deeply shocked at the sudden nature of the incident. It must be why many cannot say anything other than a word or two, because they are still reeling from the shock. Luka Doncic, similarly affected, took to Instagram to partake in the mourning with just one word – “RIP.”

He shared this post with the above-mentioned caption in his story update. Milojević was one of the most decorated international coaches. The late Milojevic had made waves as a player. Known at his home as the “Serbian Barkley,” (as per a Serbian basketball podcaster following his career since 1998) Deki had once scored 141 points against the OKK Belgrad in 1991 (credit: Denver Post). 83 of the points came in the second half. He was just 16 at the time.

His European career is to this day, one of the most dominant. Winning the ABA League MVP award three times straight (2004-2006) in itself is a testament to his skills. Although the recognition and awards do tell a story, it doesn’t paint the full picture of Dejan Milojević‘s larger-than-life presence.

“… you have to love it a lot”: Milojević’s advice for a successful career

Even though he retired as a player in 2009, Dejan’s love for the sport kept beckoning him back to court. Three years later, he accepted the head coach position at Mega Basket. But his interest in the NBA was still profound. Though he went undrafted in the 1999 NBA Draft, Milojević still kept an eye and ear out. And in 2018, he got his chance, albeit for a short time, as a coach in the Summer League for the Houston Rockets. 

Read More: Luka Doncic Pays Ultimate Tribute to 36YO Serbian Legend: “I Wasn’t Born Yet When He Was Making Those Passes”

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During an interview with a Bosnian radio-television outlet RTV in the same year, the 3x YUBA League Champion had said, “I teach all my players that basketball is not a job, but that they should enjoy the game. Because if you want to do something for the next 20 years, then you have to love it a lot … Only those who have a sincere love for the game can handle everything with great success.” (credit: Fox59)

This alone gives us a peek into the kind of personality Dejan had. When a coach is only concerned with winning, the development of player-personality is often neglected. But Milojević was the opposite. The aforementioned podcaster had called him a “buddy first, coach second kind of guy”. And the Dubs’ rookie star, Brandin Podziemski’s emotional tribute on X proves that it was indeed true. 

In the wake of his too-early demise, the NBA announced that tonight’s Warriors-Jazz game will be postponed.

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