In their first game back after the death of Dejan Milojevic, the Warriors held a fitting tribute to the late assistant coach.
Milojevic died last week after he suffered a heart attack at a Golden State team dinner.
He was 46.
After having two games suspended following his death, the Warriors returned to practice Monday and got ready for their first home game Wednesday, honoring Milojevic before their contest with the Hawks at Chase Center.
Before the game started, players stood and wore jerseys with Milojevic’s surname on the back, while one seat was draped with a “Brate” — meaning “brother in Serbian” shirt with a rose next to it.
Along with the Serbian national anthem and a tribute video being played, head coach Steve Kerr had some poignant words for his former assistant.
The world lost a beautiful soul last week,” Kerr said. “Deki was a wonderful friend, a hell of a basketball coach, a great man and, most importantly, a beautiful grandson, son, husband and father. The mark that he’s left on our organization, the last three years, you just saw all the pictures, that was him every day: the smile, the joy, the laughter, it was ever present. And what he meant to us, was a huge part of who we are.
“He’s a part of our soul.”
Kerr thanked the all of the support the Warriors have gotten over the last week in what has been a trying time of the team.
After honoring Milojevic’s wife, Natasa, and his children, Masa and Nikola, Kerr called for fans in attendance to cheer as loud as they could to pay tribute to the late coach, rather than have a moment of silence.
As the ceremony came to a close, Warriors players, some of whom fought back tears, placed their ceremonial jerseys on the seat that Milojevic used to sit on at the arena.
Their game jerseys donned the initials DM to pay further tribute to Milojevic, who joined the Warriors in 2021 and won an NBA Finals with the team in 2022.