On Friday, marking the one-year anniversary of assistant coach Dejan “Deki” Milojević’s passing, the Golden State Warriors announced they have presented an award in his honor. At the conclusion of the regular season, they will present the first annual Dejan Milojević Brate Award to a member of their basketball operations team “who embodies the spirit, dedication and legacy” of Milojević.
Warriors press release:
In Serbian, “brate” (BRAH-teh) translates to “brother”, symbolizing the camaraderie, loyalty and connection that Milojević brought to everyone he worked with.
Named in honor of Milojević, who tragically died one year ago today in Salt Lake City at the age of 46, this award honors individuals who exemplify the qualities that defined his remarkable life and career . Recipients will be selected for their impactful contributions on and off the field, their unwavering support of their teammates and the organization, and their embodiment of key values such as mentorship, positivity, integrity and community spirit.
Milojević died after suffering a heart attack at a team dinner during a road trip. Recently, several members of the organization have expressed how much he means to them.
“It’s hard sometimes, when you watch old games and see him on the bench,” Chris DeMarco said Ron Kroichick of the San Francisco Chronicle. “He was obviously very talented with his Xs and Os, but he was also very cheerful – he just brought a different vibe to the team, always smiling.”
DeMarco, who shared an office with Milojević and assistant coach Ron Adams, continued: “He was telling the truth. He wasn’t afraid to hold guys accountable and let them know what he thought he could do with better. The players respected that.”
Warriors veteran Kevon Looney told the Chronicle that when he talks to younger teammates, he tries to communicate the same way Milojević does.
“Deki had a great way of being brutally honest and holding you accountable, but doing it with a smile so you didn’t feel attacked,” Looney said. “We couldn’t really get angry. If someone else called me meek, I’d be offended.”
Second-year big man Trayce Jackson-Davis said Danny Emerman of the Bay Area News Group that he enjoyed Milojević making jokes and clearly enjoyed his work. “Just a brilliant mind, just an all-around magnificent human being,” he said.
Jackson-Davis said Milojević’s death was like the death of a family member and the team was still trying to get over it. Coach Steve Kerr told the Chronicle that he thinks of Milojević “every day – where his office was in the building, where he sat on the bus and on the plane. It’s impossible not to think of him.” Adams, who counted Milojević among his best friends, told the Bay Area News Group that he also thinks of him daily. Adams sat next to him on that “terrible night” in Utah a year ago.
“I don’t think you progress mentally,” Adams said. “It’s in your heart. To me, it feels like it was yesterday. You kind of get by, that’s all you can do.”
