Golden State Warriors Emerge from Grief-Stricken Pause, Face Challenges Without Key Players
The Golden State Warriors are set to return to the hardwood after a somber pause forced upon them by the tragic loss of their beloved assistant coach, Dejan Milojevic. The basketball world was shaken when the 46-year-old Serbian suffered a fatal heart attack during a team dinner on January 16 in Salt Lake City. The subsequent postponement of games against the Utah Jazz and Dallas Mavericks allowed the Warriors to navigate the emotional aftermath of Milojevic’s untimely death.
As the Warriors gear up for their comeback, they face the additional hurdle of missing two key contributors, Chris Paul and Gary Payton II. Both players, crucial to Golden State’s success, have been progressing in their rehabilitation, but their return to action remains weeks away. The absence of these impactful players adds another layer of challenge for the Warriors as they look to navigate the remainder of the season.
Chris Paul, who suffered a fractured left hand in a hard-fought win against the Detroit Pistons on January 5, has undergone surgery and is on the path to recovery. However, the re-evaluation slated for three weeks from January 10 suggests that his return is imminent. Paul’s comeback will involve a gradual reintegration with the team, emphasizing contact practices before a potential return just ahead of the All-Star weekend in mid-February.
On the other hand, Gary Payton II has faced a relentless battle with injuries throughout the season. After missing 13 games due to a calf injury, Payton made a brief return on December 30 against the Dallas Mavericks. Unfortunately, after just nine minutes on the court, he exited with a hamstring strain. Payton’s injury woes continue, with his playing time limited to 16 games this season, where he has averaged 5.4 points, 3.0 rebounds, and 1.1 steals.
Adding to the Warriors’ injury woes, Moses Moody is also sidelined as he recovers from a calf injury, with a re-evaluation scheduled in a week. The team’s rookie guard, Brandin Podziemski, is listed as questionable due to an illness.
The return to practice on Monday marked the Warriors’ first steps towards healing from the loss of Dejan Milojevic. Head coach Steve Kerr, visibly moved, addressed reporters, expressing the collective grief within the organization. Reflecting on Milojevic’s impact, Kerr described the past few days as “jarring, incredibly emotional, powerful, and more than anything, heartbreaking.” Milojevic, known for training Golden State Warriors centers, had left an indelible mark on the team.
Kevon Looney, who had a close working relationship with Milojevic, shared the difficulty of coping with the loss: “It’s been tough. Just trying to be around my family and teammates as much as possible, just remembering him, telling stories about him, things like that. Not trying to run away from it, but trying to embrace it and talk about him and what I’m going through with people close to me.”
As the Warriors return to the court, they carry not just the weight of injuries but the emotional aftermath of a tragic loss. The journey ahead will be a testament to their resilience and ability to find strength amid adversity.
“It’s a pretty terrible thing to witness. Everybody on our team, everybody in our organization is traumatized. Part of life is you experience loss. Everyone is going to experience loss at some point in their life. But it doesn’t often happen in front of you.
“It doesn’t often happen to someone with kids and it doesn’t happen often where it’s someone who is so beloved worldwide. So everything that’s happened over the last five days has been just jarring, just incredibly emotional, powerful, and more than anything heartbreaking.”
Kevon Looney worked closely with Milojevic, as the late assistant coach trained Golden State Warriors centers. Looney said:
“It’s been tough. Just trying to be around my family and teammates as much as possible, just remembering him, telling stories about him, things like that.
“Not trying to run away from it, but trying to embrace it and talk about him and what I’m going through with people close to me.”
