Andrei Kirilenko

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
For the member of the Soviet Politburo from 1962 to 1982, see Andrei Kirilenko (politician).

In this name that follows Eastern Slavic naming customs, the patronymic is Gennadyevich and the family name is Kirilenko.
Andrei Kirilenko
Spartak St. Petersburg
1998–2001CSKA Moscow
2001Partizan
2001–2011Utah Jazz
2011–2012CSKA Moscow
2012–2013Minnesota Timberwolves
2013–2014Brooklyn Nets
2015CSKA Moscow
Career highlights and awards
Career statistics
Points
9,431 (11.8 ppg)
Rebounds4,352 (5.5 rpg)
Assists2,169 (2.7 apg)
Stats Edit this at Wikidata at NBA.com
Stats Edit this at Wikidata at Basketball-Reference.com
Medals
Men's basketball
Representing  Russia
Summer Olympic Games
Bronze medal – third place 2012 London
EuroBasket
Gold medal – first place 2007 Spain
Bronze medal – third place 2011 Lithuania

Andrei Gennadyevich Kirilenko (Russian: Андрей Геннадьевич Кириленко; born 18 February 1981) is a Russian-American basketball executive and former professional basketball player.

At age fifteen, Kirilenko began playing professional basketball in the

NBA All-Rookie First Team, was an NBA All-Defensive Team pick three times, played in the 2004 All-Star Game, and led the NBA in blocked shots in the 2004–2005 season. During the 2011 NBA lockout, Kirilenko returned to Russia to play for CSKA Moscow, leading the team to the 2012 EuroLeague Final. That year, he was named the EuroLeague MVP, earned an All-EuroLeague first team selection and won the EuroLeague Best Defender award. Kirilenko returned to the NBA for the 2012–2013 season to play for the Minnesota Timberwolves before finishing his NBA career as a member of the Brooklyn Nets
in 2014.

At the

Russian national team. With Russia, he won the EuroBasket title in 2007, earning MVP honors in the process. In 2011, he and his team won a bronze medal. 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 was elected president of the Russian Basketball Federation in 2015.

Early life

Kirilenko was born in the Soviet city of Izhevsk, Russia.[1] When he was ten, he began playing organized basketball.[citation needed]

Professional career

Spartak St. Petersburg (1997–1998)

In 1997, Kirilenko became the youngest player ever to compete in the Russian Super League, spending two seasons with Spartak Saint Petersburg.

CSKA Moscow (1998–2001)

Kirilenko joined CSKA Moscow in 1998. In his first season, he helped his new team win the Russian Super League championship.[2] 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.

On June 30,

Lokomotiv Mineralnye Vody
.

He showed off his all-around skills in the

2000–01 SuproLeague
, finishing in the top ten in 7 out of 8 statistical categories.

Partizan

In August 2001, Kirilenko signed a contract with Yugoslav team Partizan ICN which included an NBA-out clause option.[3][4]

Utah Jazz (2001–2011)

Kirilenko joined the

David Robinson ranked first in blocked shots per game and fifth in steals per game in the 1991–92 NBA season
). During the NBA off-season, Kirilenko played 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.[2] 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
  • Total points: 1,284
  • Points per game: 16.5
  • Total rebounds: 629
  • Rebounds per game: 8.1
  • Blocks: 215
  • Blocks per game: 2.8
  • Steals: 150
  • Steals per game: 1.9
  • Free throws made: 392
  • Free throws attempted: 496
  • Three-pointers made: 68
  • Three-pointers attempted: 201

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.[1]

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

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 EuroBasket, he asked to be released from his contract to return to Russia to play basketball.

Kirilenko with the Jazz in 2008

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%.

Return to CSKA (2011–2012)

Amid the 2011 NBA lockout, Kirilenko returned to Russia to play for his old team CSKA Moscow.[7] Although the lockout was resolved in December, Kirilenko remained with CSKA Moscow for the rest of the season rather than pursuing an immediate return to the NBA. Over 17 games in the EuroLeague, he averaged 14.1 points and 7.5 rebounds in 29.9 minutes per game, leading the team to the 2012 EuroLeague Final.[citation needed] Kirilenko was named the EuroLeague MVP, earned an All-EuroLeague first team selection and won the EuroLeague Best Defender award.[8]

Minnesota Timberwolves (2012–2013)

On July 27, 2012, Kirilenko signed with the

Charlotte Bobcats.[14] 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.[15]

Brooklyn Nets (2013–2014)

On July 12, 2013, Kirilenko signed a two-year deal with the Brooklyn Nets.[16] On June 23, 2014, he exercised his $3.3 million player option, re-signing with the Nets for the 2014–15 season.[17] On November 21, 2014, he took a leave of absence from the Nets due to personal reasons.[18]

Third stint with CSKA (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.[19] The 76ers suspended Kirilenko without pay on January 9, 2015 for failing to report after the trade,[20] and on February 21, he was waived by the 76ers before playing in a game for them.[21]

On February 24, 2015, Kirilenko signed with CSKA Moscow of the

Fenerbahçe 86–80.[26] 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 league's finals series.[27]

On June 23, 2015, Kirilenko announced his retirement as a professional basketball player.[28]

National team career

As a member of the Russian junior national team, Kirilenko was

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

Argentina
, scoring 23.

Kirilenko won a bronze medal with Russia at the 2012 Summer Olympics.[30]

Career as executive

In August 2015, Kirilenko was elected president of the Russian Basketball Federation.[31] He was re-elected to the post in August 2020.[32]

Career statistics

NBA

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  Bold  Career high
 *  Led the league

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

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
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 three 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).[33]

On January 3, 2006, against the

five-by-five, making him one of only two players (the other being Hakeem Olajuwon) to achieve this feat more than once in NBA history.[34] 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, 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.[35][36]

In June 2015,

Basketball Hall of Fame.[37]

Kirilenko is nicknamed "AK-47" in reference to his initials, the jersey number he wore, and the AK-47 rifle. Coincidentally, Kirilenko was born in the city of Izhevsk, in the former Soviet Union (now in Russia) where the weapon was first manufactured.[38]

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

American citizenship.[40] The couple have three sons, Fedor, Stepan and Andrey, and a daughter named Alexandra.[2][41][42] They live in Los Angeles. 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."[2]

Sources suggest Kirilenko was a World of Warcraft (WoW) gamer while playing in the NBA.[43] In the words of former NBA player Channing Frye, he shared a story about being up at 3am the night before an NBA game while playing WoW, when he noticed Kirilenko was online as well. Frye asked Kirilenko if he was ready for the next day's NBA game, and Kirilenko replied "Yeah, probably."[44]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d "Andrei Kirilenko". NBA. Archived from the original on October 27, 2001. Retrieved February 22, 2011.
  2. ^ a b c d Nielsen, Chad (March 13, 2006). "Perfect fit". ESPN The Magazine. Retrieved February 22, 2011.
  3. ^ Kirilenko Partizanov Glas javnosti
  4. ^ Hteo sam da dođem u Partizan Politika
  5. ^ Jazz sign Kirilenko to deal
  6. ^ "Jazz 100–97 Pistons (Mar 15, 2002) Game Recap". ESPN.
  7. ^ Andrei Kirilenko returns to CSKA Archived June 2, 2013, at the Wayback Machine. Cskabasket.com. Retrieved on May 11, 2012.
  8. ^ "Euroleague Basketball". Euroleague Basketball.
  9. ^ "Timberwolves Sign Veteran Forward Andrei Kirilenko". www.nba.com.
  10. ^ Resnick, Joe (November 29, 2012). "Billups returns, Clippers beat Wolves 101–95". Yahoo! Sports.
  11. ^ Campbell, Dave (February 5, 2013). "Aldridge, Blazers hang on to beat Wolves 100–98". Yahoo! Sports.
  12. ^ Marshall, John (February 27, 2013). "Suns survive OT for 84–83 win over Wolves". Yahoo! Sports.
  13. ^ "Andrei Kirilenko Career Stats". NBA.com. Archived from the original on December 7, 2006. Retrieved July 3, 2013.
  14. ^ Krawczynski, Jon (November 14, 2012). "Walker's jumper lifts Bobcats over Wolves, 89–87". Yahoo! Sports.
  15. ^ "Andrei Kirilenko opts for free agency over Timberwolves". USA Today. Archived from the original on April 17, 2023.
  16. ^ "Brooklyn Nets sign Andrei Kirilenko". InsideHoops.com. July 12, 2013. Archived from the original on September 10, 2013. Retrieved July 13, 2013.
  17. ^ "Kirilenko opts in, will remain with Nets". ESPN. June 23, 2014. Retrieved June 24, 2014.
  18. ^ Wells, Adam (November 21, 2014). "Andrei Kirilenko Takes Leave of Absence from Nets: Latest Details and Reaction". BleacherReport.com. Retrieved November 21, 2014.
  19. ^ "Sixers Complete Trade With Nets". NBA.com (Press release). Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. December 11, 2014. Retrieved January 31, 2015.
  20. ^ Wojnarowski, Adrian (January 9, 2015). "Sources: 76ers suspend Andrei Kirilenko for failure to report". Yahoo! Sports. Retrieved January 31, 2015.
  21. ^ Neubeck, Kyle (February 21, 2015). "Sixers Waive Andrei Kirilenko". Liberty Ballers.
  22. ^ "Andrei Kirilenko signs in Russia". ESPN. February 24, 2015. Retrieved February 24, 2015.
  23. ^ "CSKA brings back former MVP Kirilenko". Euroleague.net. Retrieved February 24, 2015.
  24. ^ "CSKA Moscow routs Panathinaikos to claim Final Four berth". euroleague.net. April 22, 2015. Retrieved May 18, 2015.
  25. ^ "Spanoulis comes through again as Olympiacos stuns CSKA". euroleague.net. May 15, 2015. Retrieved May 18, 2015.
  26. ^ "CSKA Moscow beats Fenerbahçe in third-place game". eurolague.net. May 17, 2015. Retrieved May 18, 2015.
  27. ^ "CSKA wins championship!". vtb-league.com. June 8, 2015. Archived from the original on June 10, 2015. Retrieved June 10, 2015.
  28. ^ "Andrei Kirilenko retiring; forward played 13 seasons in NBA". ESPN. June 23, 2015. Retrieved June 23, 2015.
  29. ^ Game: RUSSIA vs IRAN (Group A). Fiba.com. Retrieved on May 11, 2012.
  30. ^ "Andrei KIRILENKO". olympics.com. February 19, 2024. Retrieved February 19, 2024.
  31. ^ "Former Jazzman Andrei Kirilenko elected head of Russian basketball". The Salt Lake Tribune.
  32. ^ "Andrei Kirilenko re-elected as President of the Russian Basketball Federation". Eurohoops. August 20, 2020.
  33. ^ Andrei Kirilenko Career Stats Page Archived December 7, 2006, at the Wayback Machine. NBA.com. Retrieved on May 11, 2012.
  34. ^ "Andrei Kirilenko Retires | A Tribute to AK-47". ballislife.com.
  35. ^ ESPN.com – NBA – SPECIAL WEEKEND EDITION Pistons playing with purpose. Sports.espn.go.com (January 12, 2006). Retrieved on 2012-05-11.
  36. ^ Five-by-Fives (Since the 1986–87 Season). basketball-reference.com
  37. ^ Ode To The Underrated: Andrei Kirilenko Edition, Neil Paine, FiveThirtyEight.com, June 24, 2015
  38. ^ "Andrei Kirilenko becomes U.S. citizen", ESPN
  39. ^ "Sports Beat", Sports Illustrated, vol. 98, no. 3, January 27, 2003
  40. ^ Sorensen, Mike (January 11, 2011). "Utah Jazz: Andrei Kirilenko becomes U.S. citizen". Deseret News. Retrieved February 22, 2011.
  41. ^ "Trade Rumors: Masha has baby, can AK-47 play now?". SLC Dunk. February 10, 2015.
  42. ^ Phillips, Valerie (March 29, 2005). "From Russia with love – Masha Kirilenko's recipe for feeding an athlete". Deseret News. Retrieved February 22, 2011.
  43. ^ "Tim Duncan is a giant nerd and it makes us love him even more". March 28, 2017.
  44. ^ "Your favorite NBA player probably has a favorite esports player". February 25, 2020.

External links

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