Warriors are creating a new award to honor the legacy of Dejan Milojević

The Golden State Warriors they recently created an award in honor of their deceased assistant coach, Dejan “Deki” Milojević, and called it the Dejan Milojević Brata Award. They announced the announcement on January 17, 2025. a year since Deki tragically passed away due to a heart attack.

“The Golden State Warriors have announced the establishment of the Dejan Milojevic Brother Award, an annual honor for a member of the basketball operations staff who embodies the spirit, dedication and legacy of the late Dejan Milojevic. the team announced in an official statement. “Brate” means “brother” in Serbian, which symbolizes the camaraderie, loyalty and connection that Milojević brought to everyone he worked with.

“Named in honor of Milojevic, who tragically passed away one year ago today in Salt Lake City at the age of 46, the award celebrates individuals who exemplify the qualities that defined his extraordinary life and career.” Recipients will be selected for their impactful contributions both on and off the court, unwavering support from teammates and the organization, and their embodiment of core values ​​such as mentorship, positivity, integrity and community spirit.”

Although Decky’s time with the Warriors was relatively short, he made a huge impact. He served as an assistant coach for three seasons, including during the Warriors’ NBA Championship run in 2022. Before coming to Golden State, Decky had an incredible career as a player and coach. He was from Belgrade, Serbia and absolutely dominated European basketball, winning the MVP of the Adriatic League three times between 2004 and 2006 during his 14-year playing career. After retiring as a player, he jumped into a coaching career and made a name for himself there, helping develop NBA stars like Nikola Jokic while coaching KK Mega Basket in Serbia for eight seasons.

“Milojevic spent three seasons as an assistant coach with the Warriors and was a member of the team’s coaching staff during Golden State’s run to the 2022 NBA Championship,” the Warriors stated. “Before moving to the Warriors, Milojević spent the 2021 season as the coach of KK Budućnost in the Adriatic League in Montenegro and for eight seasons (2012-2020) he was the coach of KK Mega Basket in Belgrade, Serbia.

“A native of Belgrade, Serbia, Milojević enjoyed a 14-year international career and was named the Most Valuable Player of the Adriatic League three times (2004-06). He is survived by his wife Nataša and two children Nikola and Maša.

Each year, the Warriors will honor someone from their basketball operations staff who exemplifies Decky’s values, such as his commitment to others and his positive, community-oriented attitude. The Warriors will announce the first recipient at the end of the 2024-25 NBA season and have even pledged to make an annual donation to a Bay Area nonprofit in Decay’s honor.