Warriors to Honor Dejan Milojević With Jersey Patch For Rest of Season

Featured Columnist IVJanuary 24, 2024

SAN FRANCISCO, CA- JANUARY 5: Assistant Coach Dejan Milojević of the Golden State Warriors smiles prior to the game against the Detroit Pistons on January 5, 2024 at Chase Center in San Francisco, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2024 NBAE (Photo by Noah Graham/NBAE via Getty Images)

Noah Graham/NBAE via Getty Images

The Golden State Warriors will wear a jersey patch featuring the initials "DM" in honor of former assistant coach Dejan Milojević, who died last week of a heart attack.

The team will also feature Milojević's initials on the Chase Center court.

Warriors PR @WarriorsPR
The Warriors will wear a 'DM' patch on their uniforms for the remainder of the season in honor of assistant coach Dejan Milojević. Additionally, the 'DM' logo will appear on the Chase Center court apron for all remaining home games this season. <a href="https://t.co/tY89OK1PmH">pic.twitter.com/tY89OK1PmH</a>

Milojević, a longtime head coach in his native Serbia, joined Steve Kerr's staff in 2021 as an assistant. He was part of the staff that led the Warriors to the 2022 NBA championship.

"It's hard to describe that last week," Kerr said Monday. "Heartbreaking. Devastating. It's the saddest thing I have ever been a part of in the NBA ... The last five days have been full of the shock, the emotion, the extreme outpouring of love from all over the world."

The Warriors held their first practice since Milojević's death Monday. The team watched a 15-minute tribute video to begin the practice session.

"You've got to come to work and got to get a whole new routine," Warriors center Kevon Looney said. "There's a whole different vibe to practice not having him here. He was an integral part of our team, an integral part of my day-to-day routine. It's definitely different."

The NBA postponed Golden State's games against the Utah Jazz and Dallas Mavericks in wake of the events. The Warriors will return to the floor for the first time without Milojević against the Atlanta Hawks on Wednesday.