Bogdan Bogdanovic, a three-time Serbian Player of the Year and current guard for the Atlanta Hawks, had a strong performance off the bench in Wednesday night's win over the Orlando Magic. Bogdanovic played 24 minutes and scored 12 points.
But Bogdanovic played with a heavy heart, saying he couldn't get his friend, Golden State Warriors assistant coach and fellow Serbian Dejan Milojevic out of his mind, who died of a heart attack at the age of 46.
Hawks star Dejounte Murray scored at the buzzer to lead the Hawks to a thrilling 106-104 victory, but Bogdanovic has little recollection of the game.
“I don't even know what I did tonight,” Bogdanovic said. “I remember warming up. I don't remember what he was doing. He forgot some of his routines.”
CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM
Bogdan Bogdanovic (right) hugs Dejounte Murray of the Atlanta Hawks at the end of the Atlanta Hawks' 106-104 victory over the Orlando Magic at State Farm Arena in Atlanta on January 17, 2024. (Todd Kirkland/Getty Images)
Bogdanovic stood solemnly alongside his teammates as a moment of silence was observed before the game.
Bogdanovic recalled feeling like he was just going through the motions at times during the match. He had a hard time understanding that Milojevic was gone.
“Like everyone else in Serbia, we could not believe the news,” he said. “He was a beast. He's always positive.”
NBA postpones Warriors-Mavericks game following sudden death of Golden State assistant coach
Bogdanovic, 31, has never played against Milojevic since he began his coaching career, but they have faced off against Milojevic many times as a player. A common homeland gave them a natural bond.
Bogdanovic particularly praised Milojevic's way off the court.
“It's very sad considering how much of an impact he had on so many players and people around the world,” Bogdanovic said. “One thing I'll never forget is that he didn't pursue his own career.”
Golden State Warriors assistant coach Dejan Milojevic before a game against the Los Angeles Clippers at Chase Center in San Francisco on March 8, 2022. (Darren Yamashita/USA Today Sports)
Milojevic won the MVP award in the Adriatic League for three years in a row.
“He was a great player, but he never pursued his own career,” Bogdanovic said. “He always wanted to live a family lifestyle with his kids in a good city. He never chased money, and I think that's a great example for everyone.”
“He believed that if you didn't like your life, you couldn't perform at your job, you couldn't get the most out of your job,” the Hawks guard added. “If a person is not satisfied with his life, he will not reach his full potential, because sometimes a person values his work and other things more.”
Bogdan Bogdanovic (13) of the Atlanta Hawks drives to the basket during the third quarter of a game against the Orlando Magic at State Farm Arena in Atlanta on January 17, 2024. (Todd Kirkland/Getty Images)
Milojevic is in his third season on the Warriors' coaching staff. He previously coached in Serbia and even worked with Nikola Jokic before the two-time NBA MVP came to the United States and Montenegro.
Bogdanovic briefly considered sitting out the game against the Magic in Atlanta to deal with his grief. But he decided to play, realizing that being on the court was a more fitting tribute to the man he greatly admired.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
“When I couldn't sleep and was out of my routine, I was thinking about not coming tonight,” Bogdanovic said. “But then I thought, 'He wouldn't want me to do that.'
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Follow Fox News Digital X sports broadcast and subscribe Fox News Sports Huddle Newsletter.
