In their first game back, the Golden State Warriors honor late assistant coach Dejan Milojević.
The Golden State Warriors defeated the Atlanta Hawks 134–111 on Wednesday night at the Chase Center, sparking intense emotions as they played their first game back after a nine-day break.
According to Yahoo Sports, assistant coach Dejan Milojević passed away last week from a heart attack, forcing the team to postpone a few games.
In remembrance of the deceased coach, the Warriors donned black t-shirts bearing the Serbian word “brate,” which means “brother” in English.
They also unveiled a new jersey patch that they will wear for the remainder of the season, which features Milojević’s initials inside a heart.
Before the game, Warriors coach Steve Kerr spoke to the crowd at the Chase Center. Rather than calling for a silent moment, he proposed a standing ovation for Milojević.
After that, the Warriors honored their assistant coach by removing their special Milojević jerseys and setting them on an empty bench chair meant for him.
A number of Warriors players, including Draymond Green and Klay Thompson, were visibly moved by this kind gesture while they were playing the game.
Even with a one-point advantage, the Warriors pulled away in the third quarter to win by a score of 22 points.
On Friday, the Warriors will make their home court debut against the Dallas Mavericks in the first game of a six-game homestand.
