Warriors honor assistant Dejan Milojevic in pregame ceremony،
SAN FRANCISCO — Golden State Warriors coach Steve Kerr couldn't say anything Wednesday to help prepare his team for its first game in nine days following the death of assistant coach Dejan Milojević last week at the age 46.
This situation was unprecedented for everyone. So Kerr told his team to dive headfirst and get lost in the game.
“It wasn't easy, but I thought our guys did a good job trying to make that transition and settle into the game,” Kerr said after the Warriors' 134-112 win over the Hawks. 'Atlanta. “I think going out and playing is probably the best thing the players can do to forget the heartbreak we all felt last week.”
Before the game, the Warriors and Hawks stood side by side on the Chase Center sideline, donning matching shirts that read “Brate,” the Serbian word for “brother.” In the corner was a heart with the initials “DM” inside — the same logo the Warriors will wear on their jerseys for the rest of the year and which is also plastered in front of their bench at Chase Center.
On the back of the shirt was Milojevic's nickname, “Deki.”
Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Doncic and Houston Rockets center Boban Marjanovic also wore these jerseys before their respective games on Wednesday night.
“Deki’s smile, his joy, his laughter was always there,” Kerr told fans at Chase Center. “So tonight, rather than a moment of silence, I would like you to join me in honoring Deki and his beautiful family, I would like all of us to give Deki a standing ovation that he can hear in heaven.”
The ovation lasted about a minute and was followed by the national anthem of Serbia, Milojevic's home country.
“He was like my older brother,” said fellow former Yugoslavian Dario Saric, who was initially recruited by Milojevic this summer to join the Warriors. “He was the kind of person who could say it in a positive way: 'Dario, you're stupid.' But I knew he would say that because he wanted me to do better.”
After the American national anthem, the Warriors players removed their tribute jerseys and, one by one, each placed them on the seat Milojevic occupied during his 2½ seasons with Golden State. A white rose was already there alongside the T-shirts worn by the rest of the staff.
His wife, Natasha, and two children, Nikola and Masa, sat five rows behind general manager Mike Dunleavy and front office consultant Zaza Pachulia. As tears streamed down their faces, they were presented with the rest of the bouquet of white roses.
The day before, Klay Thompson bounced Milojevic's son, Nikola, after practice.
“Just to be able to tell him how much I loved his dad, all the good memories we built and created together, I just told him how grateful I am for his family and how proud I am of them. [Milojevic] “Thompson told ESPN.
“There's still a really big hole in our team. I feel so bad for his kids and his wife. We miss him every day.”
Before the starting lineup was announced, the Warriors stood near their bench, arms around each other, some hugging each other for a long time before moving to their positions.
Most of them were crying and their tears didn't stop as the match started. But as the game continued and the Warriors settled in, they did what Kerr had advised them to do beforehand, and what they knew Milojevic would have wanted them to do: lose themselves in the game.
