The Brate Award will forever bless Warriors staff for their achievements in honor of their deceased former assistant coach.

The Golden State Warriors have let the world know they that they are creating an official annual award in the honor of deceased former assistant coach Dejan Milojević to pay homage to his legacy and acknowledge future GSW operational staff members.

Milojević, affectionately known as “Deki,” was more than just an assistant coach for the Golden State Warriors; he was a beacon of basketball excellence whose influence spanned continents. Born on April 15, 1977, in Belgrade, Serbia, Milojević carved out a distinguished playing career before transitioning into coaching. As a formidable power forward, he earned the prestigious ABA League MVP title three consecutive times from 2004 to 2006, showcasing his dominance on the court.

After hanging up his sneakers, Milojević seamlessly shifted to coaching, where he became instrumental in developing young talents. Perhaps his most notable protégé is Nikola Jokić, the Denver Nuggets’ superstar center. Under Milojević’s mentorship at Mega Basket, Jokić honed the skills that would later make him an NBA MVP, a testament to Milojević’s keen eye for talent and player development acumen.

In 2021, Milojević joined the Golden State Warriors’ coaching staff, bringing with him a wealth of international experience and a passion for the game. His tenure with the Warriors was marked by dedication and camaraderie, contributing to the team’s dynamic and success. Tragically, on January 16, 2024, while at a team dinner in Salt Lake City, Milojević suffered a heart attack. Despite prompt medical attention, he passed away the following day at the age of 46.

The news of his untimely death sent shockwaves through the basketball community. Warriors’ general manager, Mike Dunleavy Jr., attended Milojević’s funeral in Belgrade, Serbia, underscoring the deep respect and admiration held for him. Predrag Danilović, president of the Serbian Basketball Federation, poignantly remarked, “A great basketball player, great coach left us, and above all a great man, a man without a single stain.”

In the wake of his passing, the Warriors faced the daunting task of returning to the court without their beloved coach. Their first game back was laden with emotion, as the team honored Milojević’s memory and sought solace in their shared grief.

Dejan Milojević’s legacy is etched in the annals of basketball history, not just for his on-court achievements, but for the indelible mark he left on players, colleagues, and fans alike. His life serves as a reminder of the profound impact one individual can have on the sport and the people who love it.

Two bungling thieves were caught on CCTV stealing £100 worth of Easter eggs from Tesco before getting trapped inside the supermarket.

Jordon King, 28, admitted three counts of shop theft and was jailed for eight weeks at Nottingham Magistrates’ Court on Friday for the crime.

CCTV footage showed the crook entering Tesco Express on Alfreton Road, Radford, Notts., on February 27, with another man.

From there, King grabbed Easter eggs off the shelves before trying to run out of the store, his arms overflowing with the chocolate goodies.

King tried to force open the glass door, which had been locked by security, before placing his six eggs on the floor.

His accomplice then barged the door off its hinges and squeezed himself outside, before lifting the door to let King escape with the eggs.

After his arrest, police discovered King had raided several supermarkets in Radford between February 27 and March 27.

As well as stealing Easter eggs, he also stole nappies and washing pods.

King was identified from CCTV and arrested by officers from the Radford neighbourhood policing team after a tip-off from the public.

He also pleaded guilty to resisting an officer when he was arrested on the morning of March 27.

King, of no fixed address, further admitted to causing criminal damage to the Tesco Express.

King has been ordered to pay back the cost of the items stolen, but Nottinghamshire Police are still hunting for King’s accomplice.

Sergeant Matthew Leask, of Radford’s neighbourhood policing team, said: ‘Shoplifting is not a victimless crime and can have a significant impact on retailers both financially and emotionally.

‘We take shoplifting very seriously and I am pleased we have been able to get a repeat offender like King off the streets.’

In 2023, research showed a 27% increase in retail crime and a £2.8 billion loss from customer theft -described as ‘the tip of the iceberg’ by the British Independent Retailers’ Association (Bira).

The Centre for Retail Research found that shoplifting costs the average UK household £133 per year.

In 2024, the figures jumped dramatically. There was a total of 469,788 offences logged by police forces in England and Wales in the year to June 2024.

That is a 29% leap from the 365,173 recorded in the 12 months previous.

The figure is the highest since current records began in the year to March 2003, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS).

Shoplifting levels had already reached a 20-year high in 2024, with the latest figures showing them rising even higher.

Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.

For more stories like this, check our news page.