Utah Jazz notes: Dee Brown sidelined in Turkey

CHICAGO — The Jazz's lone trip of the season to Chicago was cause for point guard Deron Williams to provide an update Tuesday on his former University of Illinois and ex-Jazz teammate, guard Dee Brown.

Though sidelined recently by a sprained ankle, Brown — not offered a fully guaranteed contract to return to Utah after his rookie NBA season — is playing for a team in Turkey, Istanbul-based Galatasaray Cafe Crown.

"He's doing good," Williams said of his close friend, a 2006 Jazz second-round draft choice. "It's definitely an adjustment over there. I know he wants to be back playing over here, but that's the path he has to go right now."

Staying in the U.S., Williams suggested, wasn't a viable option for Brown.

"I don't really think he had much choice," he said. "You know, not a lot of (NBA) teams called. Some did, but they didn't want to give him guaranteed money. So, really, you have to go and take the guaranteed money (overseas) while you can. You can't just risk it."

In a blog posted this week on his Web site, Brown said he rushed back to play "because I want to win and help my team by any means necessary."

The father of two suggested he spends lots of time by himself in Turkey, seeking solace in music and video games. He's filming a documentary that will be paired with an album and released in August, and he's working on a second mixtape as well that's scheduled for release in June.

But the ankle injury, Brown blogged, was frustrating because it kept him away from "what I love."

"Injury," Brown wrote, "is the only thing I fear when it comes to basketball. ... When I was growing up I told my mother, I promise injury and God is the only two things that can take basketball from me. Nothing else could take it away from me, not grades, girls, friends, the streets, none of these things. I love it too much and it's all I know and want to do with my life."

KIRILENKO RETURNS: Starting small forward Andrei Kirilenko returned to the Jazz lineup Tuesday, one week after straining his right hip in Utah's March 3 win over Dallas.

Kirilenko wasn't sure if he really was ready to return, but he wanted to give it a go anyway.

"The shorter period of time you're missing it's better, because you can't lose your game shape," said Kirilenko, who missed three games due to the flagrant foul that also cost Mavericks star Dirk Nowitzki a one-game suspension.