A tribute is planned Wednesday at Chase Center to publicly bereave and honor late Golden State Warriors assistant coach Dejan Milojević before the team returns to the court to face the Atlanta Hawks.
Not that Stephen Curry was thinking Tuesday at all about it — or the emotions it is bound to stir.
“All our energy has been more to staying in the moment and trying to get yourself ready to physically, mentally to go play,” said the two-time NBA MVP, clad after practice in a black T-shirt that reads “BRATE” in white — Serbian for brother.
Added Curry: “Saw what they did in Serbia yesterday with the game that took place over there with his two former teams. Just watching that, can’t imagine what it’d been like to (have) been in the building for that energy and that celebration. I think that was a good primer for ways that we want to honor and celebrate him.”
Curry yet again embodies calm amid the chaos — speaking publicly for the first time about Milojević, whose initials filled a heart atop the bold white lettering on his shirt the way the void the late coach left behind filled the practice gym a third straight day.
The four-time NBA champion so often steadies the Warriors with his play, but the last several days, it’s Curry’s presence that takes precedent.
“Really not much needs to be said. It’s just …” added Curry, his voice trailing momentarily. “We all understand what’s going on and everybody’s trying to comprehend it if you can, as best you can … get yourself in a place mentally where you can go out and play basketball.”
The Warriors, Curry again affirmed, weren’t in that place last week, triggering the postponement of games against the Utah Jazz and Dallas Mavericks. The gap between games allowed Curry and the rest of the organization to grieve.
Or begin to, anyway.
Curry eulogized Milojević, remembering a mountain of a man who so often spoke through a smile: “What I experienced in our conversations and every time you talk to him, it’s a presence that is loud even though it might not be with words. It’s a smile, it’s a hug. It’s just a light-hearted nature. When it comes to coaching, to have that personality, that energy, and be able to relate to guys where you can be honest … that’s the art of a great coach.
“He’s very direct,” Curry added, speaking of the late coach in the present tense. “But it’s with a light-hearted and kind of passionate point of view. But it’s fun. And he understands that this is basketball. That’s what he loves. … That’s who he was.”
Head coach Steve Kerr didn’t detail the specifics of the tribute to Milojević, noting, “We want to celebrate his life and his accomplishments. And we’ll do so accordingly.”
Perhaps by living in the moment. Just like their superstar is doing.
Kerr to dip into depth: The eight-day layoff — unusual during the rhythm of the NBA regular season — precedes three games in four nights for the Warriors, who host the Sacramento Kings and Los Angeles Lakers on Thursday and Saturday after Wednesday’s game against the Hawks.
Rookie forward Trayce Jackson-Davis intimated that conditioning shouldn’t be an issue, though Kerr said he plans to lean on the team’s depth with the rigors of the regular season resuming in short order. The Warriors held an open gym Sunday that preceded a “heavier” practice Monday and some half-court scrimmaging Tuesday.
“I think our guys will settle into the game tomorrow,” Kerr said. “They’re in great shape. They’ll have their legs underneath them.”
Curry, Paul in Olympic pool: Curry and Chris Paul were among 41 players in USA Basketball’s initial player pool for the senior national team this summer at the Olympics in Paris, the organization announced Tuesday.
Paul is a two-time Olympian, capturing gold with the Americans in 2008 and 2012. Curry, a two-time FIBA World Cup champion (2010, 2014) hasn’t played in the Olympics.
Kerr is coaching Team USA, which debuts July 10 with an exhibition against Canada at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
Atkinson in Bucks’ mix? Warriors assistant coach Kenny Atkinson is a candidate to fill the Milwaukee Bucks’ head-coaching vacancy should they not finalize a deal with top candidate Doc Rivers, according to the Athletic. Head coach Adrian Griffin was fired Tuesday despite a 30-13 start.
Atkinson has rebuffed previous head-coaching opportunities to remain on Kerr’s staff with the Warriors. The 56-year-old coached the Brooklyn Nets for four seasons, earning a single playoff berth amidst a 118-190 record from 2016-20, when he resigned midway through the 2019-20 season.
Of Griffin’s dismissal, Kerr said, “It’s always surprising when you see someone get fired, especially with a record like that. … This is a very difficult league for coaches and players. There’s not much job security.
“Yet another reminder that this is a pretty tough business.”