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Sabrina Ionescu Joins NBA World to Pay Her Respects After Warriors Assistant Coach’s Saddening Demise

Published 01/18/2024, 6:16 AM EST

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USA Today via Reuters

Dejan Milojević died abruptly on Wednesday, January 17. He was forty-six. Milojević, the assistant coach for the Golden State Warriors, was hospitalized in Salt Lake City on Tuesday night due to a medical occurrence that transpired at a team dinner. The NBA community expressed their sorrow at his untimely passing in a statement. Moreover, a well-known WNBA player has joined the NBA community to share her sorrows.

Many people were shocked to learn that Milojević died from cardiac arrest, and many were in grief. The star of the New York Liberty, who was well-known for her appreciation of Milojević’s teaching abilities, expressed her deepest sympathies on social media and highlighted his influence on the basketball community.

Sabrina Ionescu paid homage to Dejan Milojević

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The Golden State Warriors assistant coach, Dejan Milojević, recently suffered a medical incident that has been kept under wraps by the club. However, sources close to the situation suggest that he may have had a heart attack. As the basketball community reels from this tragedy, WNBA star Sabrina Ionescu decided to share her condolences for the 46-year-old’s passing.

Sabrina Ionescu shared a story on Instagram, where she reposted a post by Warrior’s official Instagram page: We are absolutely devastated by Dejan Milojević’s sudden passing. 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 of working with him. We grieve with and for his wife, Natasa, and their children, Nikola and Masa.”

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In a statement released by the team, Head Coach Steve Kerr expressed his concern for Milojević’s wife and children, sharing that the entire franchise and San Francisco community holds them in their hearts.

As a result of his abrupt demise, the Warriors’ scheduled game against the Utah Jazz at the Delta Center on Wednesday was rescheduled. Milojević joined the Golden State Warriors coaching staff in 2021, and the team went on to win the NBA championship in 2022.

Read More: All You Need to Know About Sabrina Ionescu’s Journey With Nike and the Rise of Her Signature Shoes in the NBA Spotlight

The impact of Milojević on NBA’s European big men

Before joining the Warriors, Milojević had an illustrious basketball career. He was born in Belgrade and played for the Serbian national team for 14 years, during which time he also served as an assistant coach in December 2019.

After leaving Serbia, Milojevic became the head coach of KK Buducnost in the Adriatic League before moving to the United States to join the Warriors’ coaching staff three years ago. Notably, Milojević was also a vital component to the emergence of Nikola Jokic, who he trained closely.

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Along with Jokic, the former Serbian pro also trained other European big men like Ivica Zubac, Goga Bitadze and Boban Marjanovic.

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The NBA postponed the Warriors’ scheduled Wednesday matchup against the Utah Jazz due to the untimely demise of the 46-year-old Serbian.

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Written by:

Nima Murugan

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Edited by:

Aakash Nair