In January 2022, the Golden State Warriors suffered a devastating loss when assistant coach Dejan Milojevic passed away from a heart attack. Known as 'Deki' to his friends and colleagues, Milojevic was a beloved mentor and coach, having made a significant impact on players such as Kevon Looney and Dario Saric. His passing left a deep void within the team and the basketball world at large.
Under Milojevic's guidance, Looney experienced the best rebounding seasons of his career. Despite averaging only four rebounds per game in his first six years in the league, Looney's numbers soared to 7.3 rebounds during the 2021-22 season, culminating in the Warriors' NBA championship victory. Last season, he averaged a career-high 9.3 rebounds. Milojevic's coaching had instilled in Looney a different mentality—one of striving for greatness and refusing to settle for mediocrity.
