Andrei Kirilenko not joining Russian team in Turkey

SALT LAKE CITY — They're not allowed — due to an agreement between FIBA, basketball's international governing body, and the NBA — to tell him what to do.

But suffice it to say the Jazz are happy starting small forward Andrei Kirilenko said nyet to playing for his native Russia at next month's FIBA World Championships in Turkey.

The Jazz were concerned about Kirilenko's conditioning, especially because — despite a preseason conditioning program that put some bulk on his usually lankly frame — he missed 20-plus games last regular season and with a calf muscle strained in three different spots.

"I was thrilled with the way he came back (last fall), and he didn't play (internationally) last year," Jazz general manager Kevin O'Connor said Thursday. "So, we hope that he keeps the weight on and we hope that he keeps working out."

New Jazz big man Al Jefferson, meanwhile, said Thursday that he's declined an opportunity to go to USA Basketball's training camp next week in Las Vegas.

There, Team USA will pick players for the upcoming tourney in Turkey.

"The reason why I decided not to go — me and my (personal) team decided that I just felt real comfortable with what I was doing now as far as working out, rehabbing on my knee," said Jefferson, whose 2008-09 season was cut short by an ACL tear that prompted reconstructive surgery.

"I just felt like I need to continue to do that. I feel I'm young enough (25) to have a chance to go (the 2014 World Championships) four years from now."

The decision could cost him a shot at the U.S.'s 2012 London Olympics team, but Jefferson wasn't sure about that.

With Kirilenko and Jefferson out, the Jazz won't be represented at the world tourney.

Point Deron Williams, a 2010 gold medal-winning Olympian, declined his Team USA invite last Saturday. And center Mehmet Okur, from Turkey, remains sidelined by recent Achilles tendon surgery.

The decision by Kirilenko, who carried Russia's flag at 2010 Beijing Olympics, apparently is quite controversial in his homeland.

Russia used the expectation of his presence to land a wildcard invite to the tourney, and — because he evidently changed his mind after initially vowing to play — his actions are being painted there as a broken promise.