NBA postpones Friday's Warriors-Mavericks game after death of Golden State coach Dejan Milojević

The NBA has postponed Friday’s Western Conference matchup between the Golden State Warriors and Dallas Mavericks following the death of Warriors assistant coach Dejan Milojević.

The league office released a statement via social media to announce the news.

“The National Basketball Association game scheduled for tomorrow between the Dallas Mavericks and Golden State Warriors has been postponed due to the passing of Warriors assistant coach Dejan Milojevic. The date for the rescheduled game will be announced at a later time.

“ESPN will now telecast the Brooklyn Nets at Los Angeles Lakers game on Friday night.”

Milojević suffered a sudden and serious health issue at a restaurant in Salt Lake City on Tuesday night, according to reports from ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski and Ramona Shelburne, after traveling with the Warriors for Wednesday’s game against the Utah Jazz.

In the report, ESPN added that there “were players and coaches dining together when Milojević’s health episode occurred.” He later died at a hospital in Salt Lake City after being listed as in critical condition.

The Warriors assistant joined Steve Kerr’s staff back in 2021, and was a well-regarded coach in the league, according to ESPN. Additionally, Wojnarowski and Shelburne reported that he had a healthy relationship with Serbian basketball star Nikola Jokic of the Denver Nuggets.

Milojević was hired alongside assistant coaches Jama Mahlalela and Kenny Atkinson, and worked with players to improve their shooting closer to the basket. At the time of his hire, he worked mainly with players like James Wiseman, Draymond Green and Kevon Looney, and is credited with helping Looney improve his rebounding during the 2022 season.

During that same season, the Warriors went on to defeat the Boston Celtics in the 2022 NBA Finals in six games. The NBA Championship win earned Milojević his first NBA championship, which gave him the honor of being the second Serbian assistant coach, after Igor Kokoškov (Detroit Pistons), to win an NBA title.

The Warriors currently sit 12th in the Western Conference through Jan. 18, two games back from the last spot in the play-in tournament. At 18-22, only the Memphis Grizzlies, Portland Trail Blazers and San Antonio Spurs have worse records in the conference despite Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson playing in nearly every game for the Warriors this season.

Barring another cancelation, the next game on Golden State’s schedule is a home stand against the Atlanta Hawks on Wednesday, Jan. 24. Tip-off is scheduled for 10 p.m. ET.