Andrei Kirilenko

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Kirilenko's journey began in Izhevsk, where he started organized basketball at age ten. By fifteen, he was playing professionally in the Russian Basketball Super League with Spartak St. Petersburg before joining CSKA Moscow in 1998. At CSKA, he won league MVP honors in 2000 and helped the team secure consecutive Russian Super League championships. His international dominance continued when he returned to Russia during the 2011 NBA lockout, leading CSKA to the 2012 EuroLeague Final while earning EuroLeague MVP and All-EuroLeague first team selection that same year. On the national stage, Kirilenko was a regular for Russia, winning EuroBasket gold in 2007 where he earned tournament MVP honors, and securing a bronze medal at EuroBasket 2011. He was named FIBA Europe Men's Player of the Year twice and won the Euroscar Player of the Year award in 2012.

In Their Own Story

On March 15, 2002, Kirilenko stepped into the starting lineup for injured teammate Karl Malone against the Detroit Pistons. He responded with a then-career-high 27 points in a 100–97 victory, announcing his potential to the league. By the 2003–04 season, he ranked third in the NBA in blocked shots per game and fourth in steals per game, becoming just the second player in history to finish top five in both categories. His defensive peak arrived on March 26, 2006, when he recorded a career-high 10 blocks against Indiana. That season, he finished first in total blocks with 220 and second in blocks per game at 3.2. Despite a broken right wrist sidelining him for the rest of the 2004–05 season after playing only 41 games, his shot-blocking prowess was enough to lead the NBA in that category. He also shared a rare statistical distinction with Hakeem Olajuwon as one of only two players since 1985–86 to record at least 6 steals, 6 blocks, 6 points, 6 rebounds, and 6 assists in a single game.

Reader's Guide

Kirilenko joined the Utah Jazz on a rookie-scale contract in September 2001. After being drafted in 1999, he played two more seasons with CSKA Moscow before arriving in Salt Lake City. During his tenure, he was selected to play in the 2004 NBA All-Star Game in Los Angeles and earned three NBA All-Defensive Team selections (one first team, two second teams). His statistical output during the 2003–04 season included 16.5 points, 8.1 rebounds, 2.8 blocks, and 1.9 steals per game over 78 starts. Following a disappointing 2006–07 campaign where he averaged career lows of 8.3 points due to offensive role changes, Kirilenko rebounded in 2007–08, improving his field goal percentage from 47% to 51% and his three-point shooting from 21% to a career-high 38%. He eventually left the Jazz after the 2011 lockout to return to CSKA Moscow before playing for the Minnesota Timberwolves in 2012–13 and the Brooklyn Nets in 2013–14.

Did You Know?

• Kirilenko was one of the youngest European players ever chosen in an NBA draft when selected by Utah in 1999.
• Despite playing only 41 games in the 2004–05 season due to a broken wrist, he still led the entire NBA in blocked shots per game.
• He is one of a select few players since 1985–86 to record a game with at least 6 steals, 6 blocks, 6 points, 6 rebounds, and 6 assists.
• Kirilenko was named EuroLeague MVP in 2012 while leading CSKA Moscow to the EuroLeague Final during his return from the NBA lockout.
• He won the slam dunk contest at a Russian All-Star game in 1999 before finishing second to Harold Deane in 2000.