In memory of! “Golden State Warriors Introduce the Dejan Milojević Brate Award to Honor the Late Assistant Coach’s Legacy of Mentorship, Leadership, and Dedication to Team Unity and Community Engagement”…
The Golden State Warriors have introduced a new annual award in honor of the late Dejan Milojević, a figure whose impact on the franchise and basketball community remains profound.
The Dejan Milojević Brate Award aims to perpetuate the legacy of the Serbian coach, known for his unwavering dedication to mentoring players, fostering team unity, and embodying values of positivity, integrity, and community spirit.
The award was created to recognize basketball operations staff members who reflect these same ideals—qualities that defined Milojević’s life and work.
This tribute comes exactly one year after Milojević tragically passed away on January 17, 2024, following a sudden heart attack while dining with Warriors colleagues in Salt Lake City.
Milojević’s untimely death, at the age of 46, left the Warriors devastated, but his legacy lives on through this new recognition and the values he instilled in everyone he touched.
A Storied Career
Dejan Milojević’s career in basketball was marked by both individual success and a commitment to developing future stars. Born in Belgrade, Serbia, Milojević played professionally in various European leagues, most notably in the Adriatic League, where he became a three-time MVP (2004–2006).
As a versatile forward, he was known for his leadership on the court and his ability to inspire his teammates. His playing career in Europe was successful, but it was his transition to coaching that truly set him apart.
After retiring from playing, Milojević’s coaching career flourished in his home country of Serbia. As the head coach of KK Mega Basket in Belgrade, he played a key role in the development of players who would go on to make a name for themselves in the NBA.
Most famously, he helped mentor Nikola Jokić, now a two-time NBA MVP, providing Jokić with the guidance that would shape his future stardom. Milojević’s ability to identify and nurture raw talent became his trademark, and he soon earned recognition for his contributions to the sport.
In 2021, Milojević joined the Golden State Warriors as an assistant coach. Despite being new to the NBA, his influence was immediately felt within the organization. His reputation for player development and his work ethic resonated with the Warriors, and he was a key figure in the team’s successful 2022 NBA Championship campaign.
Milojević’s ability to connect with players, guide them through their personal growth, and offer technical advice on their game made him a highly valued member of the Warriors coaching staff.
The Creation of the Award
The Dejan Milojević Brate Award was designed to honor his lasting impact on the Warriors organization. The award is named after the nickname “Brate,” which means “brother” in Serbian.
This term was often used by Milojević to refer to his colleagues and players, symbolizing the deep bond and sense of camaraderie he cultivated within the team.
The Warriors wanted the award to reflect these values: not just professional excellence but also a commitment to making others feel valued, supported, and part of a larger family.
The award will be presented annually to a member of the Warriors’ basketball operations staff who exemplifies Milojević’s ideals. The recipient will be someone who demonstrates mentorship, leadership, and a spirit of positivity—qualities that Milojević himself demonstrated every day.
The award’s creation highlights the Warriors’ commitment to recognizing the human side of the game, beyond the X’s and O’s of basketball.
The inaugural recipient of the Dejan Milojević Brate Award will be announced at the conclusion of the 2024-2025 NBA season.
The Warriors have made it clear that this recognition is not just about individual achievement but about fostering an atmosphere of mutual respect, support, and growth, just as Milojević did during his time with the team. The award is intended to be a reminder of his influence and the values he imparted to everyone he worked with.
The Importance of Community and Legacy
In addition to the creation of the award, the Warriors have pledged to make an annual donation to a Bay Area nonprofit organization in honor of Milojević. This gesture serves as a way to continue his legacy of giving back to the community.
Milojević was known for his kindness and his belief in helping others, and the Warriors’ commitment to supporting local charities reflects that same spirit of giving.
This dedication to community involvement underscores the larger impact Milojević had on the Warriors. While his time with the team was relatively short, his presence was felt not just in the locker room or on the sidelines but in the way he inspired those around him to be better people, both on and off the court.
His commitment to mentorship extended beyond basketball skills; he sought to build character in the athletes he worked with, teaching them valuable lessons that would last a lifetime.
By creating the Dejan Milojević Brate Award, the Warriors ensure that his influence will continue to resonate within the organization for years to come.
The award is more than just a recognition of professional accomplishments; it is a tribute to the spirit of unity, brotherhood, and selflessness that Milojević embodied.
A Lasting Tribute to a Beloved Coach
The sudden passing of Dejan Milojević left a void in the Warriors’ coaching staff, and his absence has been deeply felt by players, coaches, and staff alike. But with the creation of the Dejan Milojević Brate Award, his legacy is not only being remembered—it is being perpetuated.
The award ensures that future generations of Warriors staff will have a tangible reminder of the impact one individual can have on an entire organization.
Milojević’s life was a testament to the power of mentorship, kindness, and hard work. His ability to make people around him feel like part of his family made him a cherished figure within the basketball world.
The Warriors’ decision to create this award ensures that these values will live on, inspiring those who come after him to follow in his footsteps.
The Dejan Milojević Brate Award serves as a tribute not only to his contributions to basketball but to his personal philosophy of nurturing relationships, fostering teamwork, and elevating others.
Through this recognition, the Warriors honor the legacy of a coach who was much more than a teacher of basketball—he was a teacher of life. His impact will continue to be felt, and his memory will forever be a part of the Warriors’ DNA.
