Andrei Kirilenko Talks About Going From All-Star To Role Player And The Jazz’s Terrible Start
The Utah Jazz locker room is a lot more interesting than you think. Although he gives terrible interviews, Deron Williams has no problem running his mouth to C.J. Miles and Ronnie Brewer. Rookie Eric Maynor is getting teased by every media member in the Madison Square Garden locker room for his hot pink Barbie backpack (I’m guessing it’s not by choice). Meanwhile, Carlos Boozer is on his own island sitting in front of the TV watching game film while bobbing his head to his headphones (which are playing Jay-Z’s “Public Service Announcement”). In the midst of the chaos, Andrei Kirilenko is sitting quietly by himself reading a book and looking sophisticated with his new Jude Law haircut and his legs crossed. I felt bad interrupting him, but did so anyway to get this interview.
Dime: What are you reading?
Andrei Kirilenko: Just fantasy. This is his (points to Kyrylo Fesenko). It’s alright.
Dime: Tell me about your new addition to your family. (Kirilenko traveled to Russia last month to adopt a baby girl, Alexandra)
AK: We love her. I think for a long time, I want girl, so finally we have it.
Dime: How tough was the adoption process?
AK: It was a tough process, a long process. There’s a lot of stories. You remember in, I think New Jersey, the family got the Russian kid and he finally ended up murdered and stuff like that. The guys in the government made the process way harder which is way right because the people who are becoming the parents have to be trustworthy and reliable. But it takes a long, long time. We’ve been working with psychologists, getting a lot of paper work.
Dime: When you traveled to Russia to adopt, it was in the middle of training camp. How tiring was it to travel back and forth and jump back into practice and games?
AK: It’s not fun because it’s a lot of flights. But I’m flying pretty much all year so you kind of get used to it.
Dime: Considering the talent on the Jazz’s roster, how tough has this start been?
AK: It wasn’t really lucky for us. We lost a few games our record is not the best one right not. But I think game wise, we played not bad games. Even during those losses, we had like three quarters of those beautiful, nice, solid game. But we can’t finish it. Either one quarter is out of hand and we’re losing the whole game because of it. So we have to concentrate more on the whole duration of the game.
Dime: Are you happy with your play so far?
AK: I mean, I reached my goal in the offseason, I gained 20 pounds and played my same type of a game. So, I’m pretty happy.
Dime: Everyone remembers you were an All-Star a few years ago. Do you think you can get back to that level?
AK: Well again, I’m trying to produce for the team. Whatever it takes for me to produce, I’ll try to provide. My role is way different now than it was three or four years ago. I’m trying to be very valuable, a guy who provides energy for Deron and Boozer, because they’re in charge of the team right now.
Dime: This is your ninth season with the Jazz. Do you want to finish your there?
AK: Well I love it in Salt Lake. Both of my sons were born there. It’s cool there, I have a lot of friends. I don’t know any other city. We’ll see how the next contract goes. My next step in my career will be definitely related with my family. It’s not what if my team wants me, it’s a decision with me and my family.
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November 11th, 2009 at 11:01 am
Mark says:
DIME – check this trade out, the salaries fit, both teams get help where most needed….
Philly gets Luke Ridnour (expiring 6.5m contract, upgrade point over lou will) and Dan Gadzuric (energetic big that runs and fits 76s new system and allows Speights to start)
Milwaukee gets Elton Brand (solid power forward far more suited to Milwaukees(scott skiles) slightly slower game)!
I should be a GM….
November 11th, 2009 at 11:06 am
RIco says:
@mark – that’s the stupidest trade scenario i ever saw. u is a dam fool!
November 11th, 2009 at 11:10 am
Mark says:
Explain why Rico!
November 11th, 2009 at 11:24 am
Rockets says:
that trade does look pretty awful haha
November 11th, 2009 at 11:26 am
That's whats up says:
He should be called Elton Off-Brand, because he’s worn down faster than a pair of Starbury’s
November 11th, 2009 at 11:26 am
That's whats up says:
and I’m pretty sure “GM Mark” is actually Chris Wallace posting on Dime
November 11th, 2009 at 11:32 am
Mark says:
I know on paper this doesnt seem fair value but I hear Philly are trying to get out from under Brands contract so they will have to take cents on the dollar for him, look what hes done since hes been there…except get injured….nothing! he just doesnt fit their system
November 11th, 2009 at 11:34 am
BiG ShoT BoB says:
@Mark Pshhhahaha It’s a stupid trade because illi would never take Gad and Ridnour for Brand are you crazy stick to the day job buddy.
November 11th, 2009 at 11:38 am
Diggity Dave says:
Kirilenko is the fucking bomb because his wife allows him an extramarital affair once per year. If that ain’t love, I don’t know what is.
November 11th, 2009 at 11:39 am
Amar says:
Why the hell would AK want to sign another contract in utah, to get 5 shots a game and waste his peak playing days (under 30 yrs. old)? he could return to CSKA (or CKSA, or whatever) Moscow and live like a Rockstar. His wife is a star on her own in their native land. He carried the olympic flag for his country last olympics.
Playing for Old Man Sloan doesn’t look as hot in comparison to the team paying for your house and having a personal driver.
Alternatively, if AK does leave Utah and stay in the NBA, it’s probably going to be for a team that’s in a bigger city (bigger market) that has a more direct flight to moscow — teams like New York, Toronto or Portland. He would be a pretty good player under Mike D’Antoni or Don Nelson.
November 11th, 2009 at 11:40 am
Mark says:
Im a Bucks fan and I have a dream!
November 11th, 2009 at 11:41 am
zaboo says:
His “explain why rico!” made me lol for some reason.
November 11th, 2009 at 12:16 pm
Rare Air says:
@ Mark
John Hammond is that you??? – seriously dude Bucks don’t need another breakdown case, haven’t you had your fill with Bogut and Redd getting hurt every single year at some point?
Keep your TI’s over on the realgm board, lmao not on an AK47 article.
In regards to AK, dude has always struck me as a different cat, I seem him probably heading back to Russia, as one of the previous posters noted, he is a rock star there and stands to play more, shoot more, etc.
The once a year affair is amazing! That should be an addendum on all marriage contracts!!
November 11th, 2009 at 1:10 pm
sh!tfaced says:
Bet AK got some bitch pregnant and pulled it off with the adoption because of that once a year affair… But still, the one-fuck-a-year allowance his wife gave him is the shit!
And if Kirilenko ever leaves Utah as a free agent, he’ll most likely sign with New Jersey because the new Nets owner is a “comrade”.
November 11th, 2009 at 2:19 pm
That's whats up says:
I can see people all over America telling their boys “Yeah, I got my kirilenko on this weekend…….Breezy was slammin’!!!!”
November 11th, 2009 at 3:40 pm
Da_Griff says:
No way AK goes back to russia in his “peak years”. Get one or 2 mil per year, not guaranteed, likely to arrive at your house in random installments in a duffle bag too.
He’ll keep his nice secure lifestyle in safe salt lake city.
November 11th, 2009 at 6:04 pm
Mo says:
So why the f*ck isn’t anyone saying Deron Williams is unhappy and wants out of Utah? Since CP3 is the only unhappy player in the league doesn’t anyone care about Deron Williams’ happiness? Too many double standard a**holes.
November 11th, 2009 at 6:36 pm
Austin Burton says:
There was an article last week on here about Deron not being happy with the losing.
November 11th, 2009 at 8:42 pm
Guitar Hero says:
being LBJ’s wing man in NY would be nice.
November 11th, 2009 at 10:20 pm
Pet Society Help says:
She allows him his once a year fling, cause when kirilenko is in another city for away games, she’s screwing karl malone.
November 12th, 2009 at 11:04 am
Amar says:
@ Pet — Karl Malone lives in the south, working as a strength and conditioning coach with La Tech, and working on his ranch (or whatever) in Alabama.