From Deseret News archives:
Kirilenko wants to play ball in Russia
And this time, Kirilenko, the national hero for leading his country to the recent European championship, indicates that he wants to stay in Russia rather than play for the Jazz.
"I want to do what I enjoy doing, and I think the emotions that I experienced with the national side are worth going back to Russia and playing there for Russian supporters," Kirilenko told the Sports Express newspaper in Russia, which has both English and Russian editions, in a story published Thursday.
The complete article can be found at english.sport-express.ru/news/13_1223.
Jazz vice president of basketball operations Kevin O'Connor has reiterated several times in the past few days that they expect Kirilenko to be at training camp, which begins Oct. 1 with media day in Salt Lake City before practices start on Oct. 2 in Boise.
Kirilenko has talked and written about his enjoyment playing with the Russian national team this summer. He averaged 18 points and 8.6 rebounds during the European championships, winning the tournament's MVP honor as a result. By comparison, he scored just 8.3 points with 4.7 rebounds per game during the last Jazz season.
But Kirilenko insists that his desire to leave the Jazz is not due to his success with the Russian team.
"I spoke to Utah general manager Kevin O'Connor ahead of European Championships kick-off so Russia's victory has not influenced my decision in any way," said Kirilenko to Sport Express.
"The previous season let me understand that I can't progress in Utah," Kirilenko said. "Jerry Sloan is a super-coach who has taken the team to playoffs a number of times, but we are split over basketball issues."
Should Kirilenko not return to the Jazz, he would be the second starter from last season's Northwest Division title and Western Conference finals team to leave despite being under contract.
Guard Derek Fisher was released from his deal by the Jazz so that he could live in a larger city where his baby daughter's rare form of cancer could be better treated. Fisher ended up re-signing with the Los Angeles Lakers, a team he played on and won NBA championships with during a previous stint.
E-mail: lojo@desnews.com
Recent comments
Maybe this is working!! Sloan played lots of bench players tonight...
GO JAZZ!!DUHSQUARED | Nov. 23, 2007 at 11:34 p.m.
AK, so you won a big one for Russia and was MVP. Great job! That is...
True JazzFan | Sept. 24, 2007 at 9:08 p.m.
I say let him go. I found him very fishy ever since I found out he...
Darl McBride | Sept. 22, 2007 at 4:47 p.m.
- Bronco getting a kick out of punter 11:54 a.m.
- 2A: Broncos vs. Wildcats numbers 11:49 a.m.
- 2A: Broncos vs. Wildcats 11:45 a.m.
- 1A: Duchesne vs. Rich by the numbers 11:40 a.m.
- 1A: Duchesne gets rematch vs. Rich 11:34 a.m.
- Editorial: Mormons and gay rights 11:20 a.m.
- 5A: Hawks, Miners by the numbers 11:03 a.m.
- 5A: Hawks, Miners ready 11:00 a.m.
- 5A: Davis, Hunter by the numbers 10:53 a.m.
- 5A: Davis, Hunter - old fashioned 10:47 a.m.
- Alta's Ohai is Ms. Soccer 2009
- SLC council OKs gay rights policies
- Crash kills Utah County man
- Prep football: Felt's Facts Week
- Will state consider gay rights law?
- BYU football recruit turning heads
- Tavernari has matured
- Cougars practice with urgency
- Celtics crush Jazz
- 'Love story' of crash victim ends
- House passes health care bill
291 - SLC council OKs gay rights policies
263 - TCU showdown has big implications
195 - Senators want food tax restored
158 - Cougars crush hapless Cowboys
155 - Utah Jazz fall apart against Kings
131 - TCU 4th in AP poll; U. 16th, Y. 22nd
119 - S.L. vote pending on gay protections
110 - Letters: Strange breed in Utah
109 - Pratt pleads not guilty to sex charges
101
Utah State hoops coach Stew Morrill took a few minutes to talk about Weber
(Warning extreme sarcasm ahead. Please do not take me literally.) The...
Obama turned down the invite to participate in the "Berlin Wall Anniv." long...
Even though a retiree isn't putting into the retirement system, their...
Once they let you into the Pundit's Club, you're making so much money that...
State psychiatrist's in Utah get gifts and special invitations to promote...
Let me preface this by saying I'm a Ute fan and season ticket holder. I...
I just hope this means JT is really ready to share the ball and NOT shoot us...
It's important to remember that if you don't have the exact same thoughts,...
I'm so grateful that PETA is willing to speak for the animals who can't speak...
If Utah plays as well as BYU did against TCU, Utah just might have a chance.

