Andrei Kirilenko

For the member of the Soviet Politburo from 1962 to 1982, see Andrei Kirilenko (politician).
Andrei Kirilenko

Kirilenko with the Russian national team in 2011
Personal information
Born (1981-02-18) February 18, 1981
Izhevsk, Russian SFSR, Soviet Union
Nationality Russian / American
Listed height 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)
Listed weight 235 lb (107 kg)
Career information
NBA draft 1999 / Round: 1 / Pick: 24th overall
Selected by the Utah Jazz
Playing career 1997–2015
Position Forward
Number 47
Career history
1997–1998 Spartak St. Petersburg
1998–2001 CSKA Moscow
2001–2011 Utah Jazz
2011–2012 CSKA Moscow
2012–2013 Minnesota Timberwolves
2013–2014 Brooklyn Nets
2015 CSKA Moscow
Career highlights and awards
Career statistics
Points 9,431 (11.8 ppg)
Rebounds 4,352 (5.5 rpg)
Assists 2,169 (2.7 apg)
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com
Medals
Representing  Russia
Men's Basketball
Summer Olympic Games
2012 London National Team
EuroBasket
2007 Spain National Team
2011 Lithuania National Team

Andrei Gennadyevich Kirilenko (Russian: Андрей Геннадьевич Кириленко; born February 18, 1981) is a Russian-American former professional basketball player, currently the Commissioner of the Russian Basketball Federation. At age fifteen, Kirilenko began playing professional basketball in the Russian Basketball Super League. He spent three years with CSKA Moscow from 1998 to 2001, winning the Russian league MVP award in 2000.

In 2001, Kirilenko joined the Utah Jazz, who drafted him twenty-fourth overall in 1999. He became the first Russian player selected in the first round of a draft and the youngest European player drafted. He made the NBA All-Rookie First Team after his first season, was an NBA All-Defensive Team pick three times and played in the 2004 All-Star Game. During the 2011 NBA lockout, Kirilenko spent another year with CSKA Moscow, leading them to the 2012 Euroleague Final. The same year, he was named the competition's Most Valuable Player, earned an All-Euroleague first team selection and won the Euroleague Best Defender award.[1]

Since the 2000 Summer Olympics, Kirilenko has been a regular member of the Russian national team. With Russia, he won the EuroBasket title in 2007, earning MVP honors in the process. In 2011, he won his second EuroBasket medal, this time the bronze. He was selected to the All-Tournament Team on both occasions. Kirilenko was named FIBA Europe Men's Player of the Year twice, and won a Euroscar Player of the Year award in 2012.

Kirilenko is nicknamed "AK-47", in reference to both his initials, jersey number, and the AK-47 rifle. Coincidentally, Kirilenko was born in the city of Izhevsk, in the former Soviet Union (now Russia), where the weapon was first manufactured. In January 2011, he became an American citizen.[2]

Early years

Kirilenko was born in the Soviet city of Izhevsk, Russia.[3] When he was ten, he began playing organized basketball. In 1997, Kirilenko became the youngest player ever to compete in the Russian Super League. After spending two seasons with Spartak Saint Petersburg, he joined CSKA Moscow in 1998. In his first season, he helped his new team win the Russian Super League championship.[4] He was also selected to participate in the Russian All-Star game, helping the West beat the East 138–107 and winning the slam dunk contest.

Professional career

Utah Jazz (2001–2011)

On June 30, 1999, at age 18 years, 132 days, Kirilenko was the youngest European player at the time to be drafted in the National Basketball Association, when the Utah Jazz selected him with the 24th pick. Kirilenko was also the first Russian picked in the first round of an NBA Draft.[3] However, he remained with CSKA Moscow for the next two seasons. In the 1999–2000 season, he helped his team win the championship of the North European Basketball League and its second Russian Super League championship in a row. On April 23, 2000, he participated in his second Russian All-Star game, helping the West beat the East 122–111. Despite being the odds-on favorite to win the slam dunk contest, he finished second to Harold Deane of Lokomotiv Mineralnye Vody.

Andrei Kirilenko participated in the 2000 Summer Olympics as a member of the Russian national basketball team, which finished 8th in the tournament. On February 8, 2001, in his third season with CSKA Moscow, Kirilenko became the second player ever in the history of the FIBA SuproLeague to record a triple-double with 13 points, 11 rebounds, and 10 steals against Lietuvos Rytas. He showed off his all-around skills in the SuproLeague, finishing in top ten in 7 out of 8 statistical categories.

Kirilenko joined the Utah Jazz in 2001. He was named to the first team on the NBA All-Rookie team. He emerged as one of the top young players in the NBA, and one of the league's top weak-side defenders. He was selected to play as a reserve in the 2004 NBA All-Star Game in Los Angeles. In the 2003–04 NBA season, he ranked third in the league in blocked shots per game and fourth in the league in steals per game,[3] becoming just the second player in NBA history to rank in the top five in both categories (David Robinson ranked first in blocked shots per game and fifth in steals per game in the 1991–92 NBA season). During the NBA offseason, Kirilenko plays for the Russian national basketball team.

Kirilenko became the leader of the Jazz in 2003 after John Stockton retired and Karl Malone left Utah to join the Los Angeles Lakers.[4] He played and started in 78 of the Utah's 82 games and led them to a 42–40 record. Utah missed the playoffs by one game behind the Denver Nuggets. He finished fifth in Defensive Player of the Year voting and fourth in Most Improved Player voting and was named to the second team on the All-NBA Defensive Team. Kirilenko led the Jazz in many statistical categories:

Kirilenko with Russian President Dmitry Medvedev in 2008

In the middle of the 2004–05 season against the Washington Wizards, Kirilenko sustained a broken right wrist, sidelining him for the remainder of the season. Despite only playing in 41 of 82 games for the Jazz, he amassed enough blocked shots during the season to qualify as the league leader in blocks per game, and was named to the second team on the NBA All-Defensive Team.[3]

In the 2005–06 season Kirilenko was again among the league's best shot blockers and defenders. He recorded a career high 10 blocks against Indiana on March 26, and finished first in the league with total blocks (220) and second in blocks per game with 3.2, just behind league leader Marcus Camby at 3.3. He was named to the first team on the NBA All-Defensive Team.

Kirilenko averaged 15.3 points, 8 rebounds, 1.5 steals, 3.2 blocks and 4.3 assists per game in the 2005–2006 season.

Kirilenko and Hakeem Olajuwon are the only 2 NBA players who have finished a game with at least 6 steals, 6 blocks, 6 points, 6 rebounds, 6 assists since 1985–86.

The 2006–2007 season was a tremendous disappointment for Kirilenko. While playing in 70 games and not missing much playing time, he averaged career lows in points (8.3) and field goal attempts (6.0). It has been said that much of this decline can be attributed to the main offensive emphasis on Carlos Boozer, Deron Williams, and Mehmet Okur, and that Kirilenko was uncomfortable losing his position as the main go-to guy on the team. His frustration eventually culminated in a widely publicized breakdown near the end of the Jazz's first-round playoffs series against the Houston Rockets. Kirilenko bounced back to lead Russia to the championship in EuroBasket 2007, and was named MVP of the tournament. Following his performance in the 2007 European championship he asked to be released from his contract to return to Russia to play basketball.

Despite the trade rumors and controversy created by these statements, he rebounded in the 2007–08 NBA season and backed off on trade demands. His statistics for the 2007–08 NBA season were 11.0 ppg, 4.7 rpg, 4.0 apg, 1.2 spg, and 1.5 bpg, all of which were improvements over his previous season's stats (with the exception of blocks and rebounds). He worked out personally with former Jazz shooting guard Jeff Hornacek on his shooting in the 2007 off-season, and his field goal percentage improved from 47% to 51%. Most impressively, his 3-point shooting improved from 21% to a career-high 38%.

Back to Russia

It was reported on October 4, 2011 that Kirilenko returned to his old Russian team, CSKA Moscow.[5] On December 31, 2011, it was confirmed on ESPN.com that he would remain there for the rest of the 2011–2012 NBA season. At the end of the season, he was named the 2011-12 Euroleague MVP and selected to the All-Euroleague First Team. Over 17 games in the Euroleague, he averaged 14.1 points and 7.5 rebounds, in 29.9 minutes per game.

Minnesota Timberwolves (2012–2013)

On July 27, 2012, Kirilenko signed with the Minnesota Timberwolves.[6] He was the team's starting small forward, playing in 64 games during the 2012-13 NBA season. Kirilenko missed 18 games because of back spasms,[7] then a right quadriceps strain,[8] and finally a calf strain.[9] He finished the season with averages of 12.4 points, 5.7 rebounds, 2.8 assists, and a 51% field goal percentage per game.[10] He had his best game on November 14, 2012, when he had 26 points and 12 rebounds on an 89-87 loss to the Charlotte Bobcats.[11] On June 29, 2013, Kirilenko opted out of the final year of his contract with the Timberwolves (worth $10 million) to become a free agent.[12]

Brooklyn Nets (2013–2014)

On July 12, 2013, Kirilenko signed a two-year deal with the Brooklyn Nets.[13] On June 23, 2014, he exercised his $3.3 million player option, re-signing with the Nets for the 2014–15 season.[14] On November 21, 2014, he took a leave of absence from the Nets due to personal reasons.[15]

Philadelphia 76ers (2014–2015)

On December 11, 2014, Kirilenko was traded, along with Jorge Gutiérrez, the Nets' second round draft pick in 2020 and the right to swap second round picks in 2018, to the Philadelphia 76ers in exchange for Brandon Davies.[16] The 76ers suspended Kirilenko without pay on January 9, 2015 for failing to report after the trade,[17] and on February 21, he was waived by the 76ers before playing in a game for them.[18]

Third and final stint with CSKA Moscow (2015)

On February 24, 2015, Kirilenko signed with CSKA Moscow of the VTB United League for the rest of the 2014–15 season, returning to the club for third stint.[19][20] With Kirilenko at the club for the second half of the season, CSKA Moscow managed to advance to the Euroleague Final Four for the fourth straight season, after eliminating Panathinaikos for the second straight season in the quarter-final with a 3–1 series win.[21] However, in the semi-final game, despite being dubbed by media as an absolute favorite to advance, once again lost to Olympiacos. The final score was 70–68, after a great Olympiacos comeback in the fourth quarter, led by Vassilis Spanoulis.[22] CSKA Moscow eventually won the third place playoff after defeating Fenerbahçe 86–80.[23] Over 11 games played in the Euroleague, he averaged 8.5 points and 5.3 rebounds per game. CSKA Moscow finished the season by winning the VTB United League, after eliminating Khimki with a 3–0 series win in the final series.[24]

On June 23, 2015, Kirilenko announced his retirement from professional basketball.[25] Afterwards, he moved on to become the head of the Russian Basketball Federation.

Russian national team

His first international tournament was in the 2000 Summer Olympics when the Russian national basketball team finished the games in the 8th place. Later he played at the EuroBasket 2001, where Russia finished 5th among 16 teams. The only time that Kirilenko played in a FIBA World Cup was at the 2002 FIBA World Championship where the Russian team finished 10th out of 16 teams. Kirilenko has also played at 5 EuroBaskets: the EuroBasket 2003, the EuroBasket 2005, the EuroBasket 2007, where he won the gold medal of the competition and was named the MVP of the tournament, and the EuroBasket 2011. With the win in the 2007 EuroBasket, Russia qualified to the 2008 Summer Olympics, where Kirilenko also played for Russia and he was also named Russia's flag bearer for the Opening Ceremony of the games.

Kirilenko with some of his teammates from the Russian national basketball team in 2011.

In the first game of the 2008 Olympics tournament against Iran, Kirilenko scored 15 points, pulled down 5 rebounds and blocked 3 shots.[26] Against Croatia, he led his team in points scored with 18, and he scored his personal best in the games against Argentina, scoring 23.

Kirilenko won a bronze medal with Russia at the 2012 Summer Olympics.

Career statistics

Legend
  GP Games played   GS  Games started  MPG  Minutes per game
 FG%  Field-goal percentage  3P%  3-point field-goal percentage  FT%  Free-throw percentage
 RPG  Rebounds per game  APG  Assists per game  SPG  Steals per game
 BPG  Blocks per game  PPG  Points per game  PIR  Performance Index Rating
 Bold  Career high

Note: The Euroleague is not the only competition in which the player participated for the team during the season. He also played in domestic competition, and regional competition if applicable.

Led the league

NBA

Regular season

Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
2001–02 Utah 82 40 26.2 .450 .250 .768 4.9 1.1 1.4 1.9 10.7
2002–03 Utah 80 11 27.7 .491 .325 .800 5.3 1.7 1.5 2.2 12.0
2003–04 Utah 78 78 37.1 .443 .338 .790 8.1 3.1 1.9 2.8 16.5
2004–05 Utah 41 37 32.9 .493 .299 .784 6.2 3.2 1.6 3.3 15.6
2005–06 Utah 69 63 37.7 .460 .308 .699 8.0 4.3 1.5 3.2 15.3
2006–07 Utah 70 70 29.3 .471 .213 .728 4.7 2.9 1.1 2.1 8.3
2007–08 Utah 72 72 30.8 .506 .379 .770 4.7 4.0 1.2 1.5 11.0
2008–09 Utah 67 10 27.3 .449 .274 .785 4.8 2.6 1.2 1.1 11.6
2009–10 Utah 58 35 29.0 .506 .292 .744 4.6 2.7 1.4 1.2 11.9
2010–11 Utah 64 62 31.2 .467 .367 .770 5.1 3.0 1.3 1.2 11.7
2012–13 Minnesota 64 64 31.8 .507 .292 .752 5.7 2.8 1.5 1.0 12.4
2013–14 Brooklyn 45 4 19.0 .513 .200 .513 3.2 1.6 .9 .4 5.0
2014–15 Brooklyn 7 0 5.1 0.0 0.0 .750 1.1 .1 .1 .0 .4
Career 797 546 30.2 .474 .310 .754 5.5 2.7 1.4 1.8 11.8
All-Star 1 0 12.0 .333 .000 .000 1.0 .0 .0 1.0 2.0

Playoffs

Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
2002 Utah 4 4 30.5 .393 .000 .813 3.8 1.0 1.8 2.5 8.8
2003 Utah 5 0 29.0 .419 .143 .875 4.8 1.4 .6 2.0 11.6
2007 Utah 17 17 31.0 .447 .333 .785 5.2 2.6 .9 2.4 9.6
2008 Utah 12 12 32.3 .447 .227 .714 3.4 2.5 1.5 1.7 11.0
2009 Utah 5 3 27.2 .468 .200 .714 2.8 2.0 2.2 .6 11.0
2010 Utah 2 0 15.0 .500 .000 1.000 3.0 .0 .5 .5 5.5
2014 Brooklyn 10 0 14.4 .467 .000 .647 2.3 1.0 1.0 .3 2.5
Career 55 36 27.1 .445 .208 .767 3.9 1.9 1.2 1.6 8.7

Euroleague

Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG PIR
2011–12 CSKA Moscow 17 17 29.9 .533 .417 .758 7.5 2.4 1.5 1.9 14.1 24.2
2014–15 CSKA Moscow 11 9 19.3 .518 .462 .682 5.3 1.2 1.1 1.2 8.5 13.9
Career 28 26 25.7 .529 .426 .734 6.6 1.9 1.4 1.6 11.9 20.2

Player profile

Kirilenko in 2006 as a member of the Utah Jazz.

Kirilenko was a versatile "big man" who could play either forward spot. He was noted for his high-level play in both offense (11.8 points and 5.5 rebounds per game NBA career averages) and defense (twice topping 3.0 blocks per game for a season). On offense, he was proficient in drawing fouls, passing, and possessed a quick first step. He was three times selected into the NBA All-Defensive First or Second Team. Staples of Kirilenko's defensive power were his shot blocking (with an NBA career average of 1.8 per game) and in stealing the ball (NBA career average of 1.4 per game).[27]

On January 3, 2006, against the Los Angeles Lakers, Kirilenko posted a stat line of 14 points, 8 rebounds, 9 assists, 6 steals, and 7 blocks. This was the third time in his career he achieved a five-by-five. It was also the first-ever regulation "5×6" — a game in which a player registers at least 6 points, 6 rebounds, 6 assists, 6 blocks, and 6 steals – since the NBA began recording blocks and steals in the 1973–74 season. In 1987, Hakeem Olajuwon had 38 points, 17 rebounds, 12 blocks, 7 steals, and 6 assists for the Houston Rockets, in a double-overtime win over the Seattle SuperSonics, the only other time a player has earned a 5×6.[28][29]

In June 2015, FiveThirtyEight reviewed Kirilenko's statistics. His efficiency in scoring, steals, blocks, assists, offensive rebounds, plus all-around versatility, suggest that Kirilenko could be justifiably considered for the Basketball Hall of Fame.[30]

Personal life

Kirilenko is married to Russian pop singer Masha "Marina" Lopatova, whose stage name is MaLo. Lopatova is the daughter of Russian basketball player Andrei Lopatov. Kirilenko met Lopatova at a youth basketball camp in Moscow, and Kirilenko appeared in one of Lopatova's music videos.[31] In January 2011, Kirilenko and his wife acquired American citizenship.[32] The couple have three sons and a daughter.[33][4][34] ESPN The Magazine reported in 2006 that Masha allows Andrei to have sex with another woman once per year and quoted her: "Male athletes in this country are extremely attractive. They get chased by women. It's hard to resist. It's the way men are by nature."[4]

See also

References

  1. ↑ KIRILENKO, ANDREI – Euroleague.net
  2. ↑ Andrei Kirilenko becomes U.S. citizen
  3. 1 2 3 4 "Andrei Kirilenko". NBA. Retrieved February 22, 2011.
  4. 1 2 3 4 Nielsen, Chad (March 13, 2006). "Perfect fit". ESPN The Magazine. Retrieved February 22, 2011.
  5. ↑ Andrei Kirilenko returns to CSKA. Cskabasket.com. Retrieved on 2012-05-11.
  6. ↑ Timberwolves Sign Veteran Forward Andrei Kirilenko
  7. ↑ Resnick, Joe (November 29, 2012). "Billups returns, Clippers beat Wolves 101-95". Yahoo! Sports.
  8. ↑ Campbell, Dave (February 5, 2013). "Aldridge, Blazers hang on to beat Wolves 100-98". Yahoo! Sports.
  9. ↑ Marshall, John (February 27, 2013). "Suns survive OT for 84-83 win over Wolves". Yahoo! Sports.
  10. ↑ "Andrei Kirilenko Career Stats". NBA.com. Retrieved July 3, 2013.
  11. ↑ Krawczynski, Jon (November 14, 2012). "Walker's jumper lifts Bobcats over Wolves, 89-87". Yahoo! Sports.
  12. ↑ Andrei Kirilenko opts for free agency over Timberwolves
  13. ↑ "Brooklyn Nets sign Andrei Kirilenko". InsideHoops.com. July 12, 2013. Retrieved July 13, 2013.
  14. ↑ "Kirilenko opts in, will remain with Nets". ESPN.com. June 23, 2014. Retrieved June 24, 2014.
  15. ↑ Wells, Adam (November 21, 2014). "Andrei Kirilenko Takes Leave of Absence from Nets: Latest Details and Reaction". BleacherReport.com. Retrieved November 21, 2014.
  16. ↑ "Sixers Complete Trade With Nets". NBA.com (Press release). Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. December 11, 2014. Retrieved January 31, 2015.
  17. ↑ Wojnarowski, Adrian (January 9, 2015). "Sources: 76ers suspend Andrei Kirilenko for failure to report". Yahoo! Sports. Yahoo Inc. Retrieved January 31, 2015.
  18. ↑ Sixers Waive Andrei Kirilenko
  19. ↑ "Andrei Kirilenko signs in Russia". ESPN.com. February 24, 2015. Retrieved February 24, 2015.
  20. ↑ "CSKA brings back former MVP Kirilenko". Euroleague.net. Retrieved February 24, 2015.
  21. ↑ "CSKA Moscow routs Panathinaikos to claim Final Four berth". euroleague.net. 22 April 2015. Retrieved 18 May 2015.
  22. ↑ "Spanoulis comes through again as Olympiacos stuns CSKA". euroleague.net. 15 May 2015. Retrieved 18 May 2015.
  23. ↑ "CSKA Moscow beats Fenerbahce in third-place game". eurolague.net. 17 May 2015. Retrieved 18 May 2015.
  24. ↑ "CSKA wins championship!". vtb-league.com. 8 June 2015. Retrieved 10 June 2015.
  25. ↑ "Andrei Kirilenko retiring; forward played 13 seasons in NBA". ESPN.com. 23 June 2015. Retrieved 23 June 2015.
  26. ↑ Game: RUSSIA vs IRAN (Group A). Fiba.com. Retrieved on 2012-05-11.
  27. ↑ Andrei Kirilenko Career Stats Page. NBA.com. Retrieved on 2012-05-11.
  28. ↑ ESPN.com – NBA – SPECIAL WEEKEND EDITIONPistons playing with purpose. Sports.espn.go.com (2006-01-12). Retrieved on 2012-05-11.
  29. ↑ Five-by-Fives (Since the 1986–87 Season). basketball-reference.com
  30. ↑ Ode To The Underrated: Andrei Kirilenko Edition, Neil Paine, FiveThirtyEight.com, 24 June 2015
  31. ↑ "Sports Beat", Sports Illustrated 98 (3), January 27, 2003
  32. ↑ Sorensen, Mike (January 11, 2011). "Utah Jazz: Andrei Kirilenko becomes U.S. citizen". Deseret News. Retrieved February 22, 2011.
  33. ↑ Masha Kirilenko delivers healthy baby boy, Andrei Kirilenko trade talk will now ramp up
  34. ↑ Phillips, Valerie (March 29, 2005). "From Russia with love – Masha Kirilenko's recipe for feeding an athlete". Deseret News. Retrieved February 22, 2011.

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