Jan. 17 (UPI) -- Golden State Warriors assistant coach Dejan Milojević has died after suffering a heart attack during a team dinner in Salt Lake City, the Warriors announced Wednesday. The Warriors game against the Utah Jazz has been postponed.
"We are absolutely devastated by Dejan's sudden passing," Golden State head coach Steve Kerr said in a statement. "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 to work with him."
"We grieve with and for his wife, Natasa, and their children, Nikola and Masa. Their loss is unfathomable."
The Warriors sćid Milojević, 46, had a medical emergency Tuesday night at a team dinner and was hospitalized in Salt Lake City, where he died Wednesday morning.
A Warriors spokesman told the San Francisco Chronicle that the team canceled its morning practice to spend time with Milojević at the hospital, before flying back to San Francisco.
The NBA did not say when the rescheduled game will be played. The Warriors (18-22) and Jazz (22-20) were to tip off at 9 p.m. EST Wednesday at Delta Center.
"The Utah Jazz organization expresses our deepest condolences following the tragic passing of Golden State Warriors assistant coach Dejan Milojević," the Jazz said in a statement. "Our thoughts are with his family, friends and the entire Warriors family during this difficult time."
Milojević started his tenure as a Warriors assistant in 2021 and won a championship with the team in 2022. He previously coached in Serbia and Montenegro. Milojević played professionally in Spain, Turkey and Serbia and Montenegro.
The Warriors will host the Dallas Mavericks (24-17) at 10 p.m. Friday in San Francisco. The Jazz will host the Oklahoma City Thunder (27-13) at 9 p.m. Thursday in Salt Lake City.
