Deseret News | Kirilenko wants to play ball in Russia

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Kirilenko wants to play ball in Russia

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Ty | 1:45 p.m. Sept. 21, 2007

I say get rid of both of them! AK is whiner and doesn't deserve to play in the NBA! Sloan is way too old school to be coaching in the NBA these days! I pick and roll ended about 20 years ago! Find a new play!! Find a new coach!! Find a new SF!!

Can't Create His Own Shot | 1:45 p.m. Sept. 21, 2007

Kirilenko can't create his own shot and he can't put the ball on the floor. That makes it difficult for ANY team to put the ball in his hands and expect him to create offense. He scores most when he lets the ball come to him in a good offensive system (IE Utah's). Let him and his obscene contract walk!

Anonymous | 1:45 p.m. Sept. 21, 2007

I've always been a fan of AK, and I don't put 100% of the blame on him for this situation, I think Sloan needed to put a bit more effort into appeasing AK. However, I'm sliding with Sloan on this one. Look at his track record! He is stubborn, he is mean, but at the same time, he is fair, he tells his players what he expects of them, and he does what he thinks is best for the TEAM. Trade AK to the Leastern conference. Milsap is ready for the minutes, did you see him in the RMR. The kid is gonna rip it up with more playing time. Truth is, when AK is on his game, he is killer, but last year we all know he was pouting and turning in a half hearted effort the entire year, cut his salary, trade him east, get a decent player and an expiring contract. See ya AK.

Comments continue below

Gall | 1:56 p.m. Sept. 21, 2007

Didn't some players perform stronger after Majerus left? Is there a principle here?

Moto X | 2:05 p.m. Sept. 21, 2007

The majority of these pro-AK and anti-Sloan posts are from the same person. He trolls the message boards and campaigns for those two things constantly.

If AK wants out then he should shut his mouth. All potential suitors now know he really does not want to work hard because that is what Sloan demands. They also now know he would rather play against weaker talent in Russia to make himself look better. He thinks the offense should run through him--this a guy who can not make a jump shot and does not have the body to play/hold up in the NBA at the PF position. If you created a recipe to make yourself have to show up to Jazz camp--AK just wrote it. No other team will pay even close to his contract value so now he essentially just forced himself to come back and have to play (sit) here. What genius. His stats of 8 points and 5 rebounds are insignificant--we have players that are sitting on the bench that can easily replace that--not only that they will be happy to play and help their team--unlike AK.

Re: JF | 2:39 p.m. Sept. 21, 2007

JF: "Did Nelson and Wilkens have Malone or Stockton. If Sloan was so great why couldn't find a way to another NBA final."

Response: How many finals does Sloan have to reach in order to get JF's stamp of approval? Nelson and Wilkins combined NBA Finals' appearances: one!

JF: "By the way lets have you run up and down the court and later call you slacker and let see how you would react."

No one called AK a slacker. His work ethic isn't in question: his acceptance of the team concept is. Even if he was called a slacker and he was fazed by it - how mentally weak is that?

Gretzky | 2:44 p.m. Sept. 21, 2007

Does it reallly matter? the NBA is rigged. just ask the refs. forgettabout it. Stick with the NHL. the goalie can keep you in a game regardless of how many penalties a ref calls. the NHL is the last sport not to be tainted by referee or umpire blown calls and fake credentials. even gambling can't really take over the sport. a goalie would have to be involved and it is too obvious.

let kirilenko go....make him play in russia for 10 seasons or another team has to pay you the difference. the Jazz can let him go as long as they don't have to pay him and he doesn't play for another NBA team for 10 years. then the Jazz can go after a true shooting guard.

chevere | 2:56 p.m. Sept. 21, 2007

A comment about Sloan. Who are you going to get to replace him? The recycled coach roulette wheel goes on every year in the NBA. A coach that was supposedly great in one city becomes a loser in the next and a supposed loser becomes great in the next city and on and on and on and on. Alot of it is getting the right combination of players in the right city at the right time and place. Then the good coach all of the sudden becomes great.

Other than the four letter tirades he rips off at the refs, I have seen nothing out of Sloan that does not say he is a very good coach in the league, and with the right NBA refs on his side at the right time on one or 2 calls in the finals, they would have a ring.

Oh, I'm sure I didn't mean that last comment; the Referees are honest and would never gamble or anything like that would they. They are much better than the refs at the St. George rec league aren't they? But of course I digress and that is a topic for another day.
Chau for now

Sloan Bashers | 2:59 p.m. Sept. 21, 2007

Anyone bashing Jerry Sloan is here is clueless about basketball. There will be a day and it won't be far off when Sloan retires and everyone will see how valuable of a coach he was for the Jazz.

JAZZ FAN is the biggest troll ever to post in here. I don't recall Sloan ever telling anyone he was the "greatest player". AK on the other hand has had the Russian media feeding his ego the past month. Money doesn't make you a man nor does it make you a better player, as we have witnessed with AK.

The NBA is collective bunch overpaid, hypersensitive egos and AK is one of them. He is part of a generation of players who consider being part of a team only because rules dictate it. Add to the equation owners like Mark Cuban throwing down $10 million on horrible bench players and fans supporting the cause by buying tickets and merchandise by the ton this is what you getï¿½the gilded age of sports.

fillmore | 3:02 p.m. Sept. 21, 2007

Does AK really care about playing for the Jazz or the N.B.A. .He is just married to a Russian actress,the exchange rate usd $1.00 Russian ruble$25.051.I think the two of them will live life fit for a ???

GrandpaJazz | 3:05 p.m. Sept. 21, 2007

Russia isn't even equivalent to Triple A baseball. It's more like high school

What a ludicrous statement. Where have you been during the past 15 years or so. Do OUR NBA stars go out and humiliate the rest of the world? Not so anyone's noticed. You are living in a fantasy world. Years ago this was true. Some college players (not even the best ones) and a guy from the army used to win, win, win. Now its just a hope that the U.S.A. can win any tournament. Don't think so. Keep watching, it wont be easy!!!

NewYorker | 3:09 p.m. Sept. 21, 2007

Hey AK, I liked watching you play when you worked hard. Don't blame Coach Sloan for your problems. The Jazz will be better off without having to pay 13.5 million dollars to a player who turns the ball over everytime he puts it on the floor. We may have a tough time getting someone in the free agent market right away but given time the Jazz will be better off if AK does walk away from his contract. Thanks for the good times and good luck in Russia, I think that we'll both be better off with a divorce.

Ty has zero knowledge | 3:24 p.m. Sept. 21, 2007

To that Ty guy who posted at 1:45...the pick and roll doesn't work anymore? Have you seen Deron Williams run that with Carlos Boozer? You obviously have no idea what you are talking about, so stay away from commenting Ty. You have zero knowledge you weasel

re: Grandpa Jazz | 3:25 p.m. Sept. 21, 2007

I hope the US team plays Russia. 30+ blowout coming.

The problem in 2004 Olympics was too many players like AK that wanted to "The Man". If you get a true team, like this year's FIBA USA team, they'll crush any other team out there. In 2008, we'll have a true team that plays for the good of the team.

Russia league IS NOT EQUIVALENT TO Triple A ball.

It's like a WNBA Developmental League.

Jazz Fan | 3:37 p.m. Sept. 21, 2007

Bye Commrade!

Need Some Toughness | 3:42 p.m. Sept. 21, 2007

Ak is weak. Skinny, fragile, touchy & selfish.

He can't handle the pressure of being a winner in the NBA. He needs to go home and dominate against inferior competition.

Unbelievably selfish. These guys don't have a clue how good they have it. Life just isn't fair.

urban or majerus | 3:56 p.m. Sept. 21, 2007

so, who would have won more championships for the Jazz over the last 12 years? Urban? Or the king of coaches--rick majerus?

hawaiijazzfan | 4:23 p.m. Sept. 21, 2007

hey i just want to throw this little bit out there and let you think about it. how many championships have authoritarian coaches won? sure they do well, furious george, larry brown for example but it took larry how long before he won a title? i love sloans coachings style and his system. it means if you play ball the right way, there are no needs for superstar ball hogs. but i know this too, sloan underutilized andrei last year and it showed. andrei blew it by missing those outside jumpers but he single handedly destroyed GS style of playing. i dont know if any of your guys played ball but imagine being good enough to go pro, then getting your shot blocked 3 times in one possession. ak destroys running teams.

mark my words, next year when we play teams that run and gun, phoenix, gs, toronto, mavs, we are definately gonna be in trouble. no way booz or memo keeps up with those forwards. call him a crybaby, tell the guy to leave, but without him we dont stop running teams period.

JF | 4:27 p.m. Sept. 21, 2007

The jazz will never win a championship as long as they have Sloan. Pick and Roll, it has worked out so well. The jazz has won so many games with it but not the most important one.

The Jazz will begin their rebuilding process in a couple of years after D-Will leaves.

Mike | 4:28 p.m. Sept. 21, 2007

People should stop lumping Fish into the same category as AK. AK clearly doesnï¿½t want to play here. Fish even had his reservations before coming here, but after he got here he loved it. He has never had anything bad to say about this organization or coach after he arrived. He even said he sees a championship here in a few years. If Fish really didnï¿½t want to play in Utah, then why would he show up during the 3rd quarter of a game? Donï¿½t you think he would have just stayed in New York, or just went home? Lay off of fish, he is one of the only classy players left in the NBA.

Mike | 4:30 p.m. Sept. 21, 2007

I donï¿½t get all of these Sloan bashers. First off, the Jazz have been the most consistent team in the past 20 years. The Spurs werenï¿½t all that great 15 years ago. Theyï¿½re really only been consistent since for the past 10 years, after they picked up Duncan. But I think the Spurs was an interesting choice to try to bash Sloan. Pop and Sloan have almost identical styles of coaching. Pop even patterned his coaching after Sloanï¿½s, so how does that help the Sloan bashers? Then saying itï¿½s a bad thing that Sloan has ï¿½control of his team.ï¿½ I sure wouldnï¿½t want to play for a coach who DIDNï¿½T have control of his team.

Mike | 4:30 p.m. Sept. 21, 2007

Even all of these players who may not like Sloan still respect him, AK even said that. Where do you think that respect comes from? It sure isnï¿½t the fact that his not a nice guy. Itï¿½s because of his accomplishments. So, saying that heï¿½s a bad coach because he hasnï¿½t won a championship or coach of the year isnï¿½t a good argument either. Sloan doesnï¿½t even care about the COY award. I guess by those standards, Stockton was a bad player because he doesnï¿½t have a championship or and MVP award either...

Mike | 4:31 p.m. Sept. 21, 2007

As for this AK situation, AK has every right to upset with his role on the team. That doesnï¿½t make him greedy or selfish. Most of us would be upset, too, if we felt like we were not involved with the team. But he has gone about this in the completely wrong way. Now he is stuck on the Jazz roster next year. Itï¿½s highly unlikely there will be a trade. Itï¿½s too late in the off season for a blockbuster trade, those wonï¿½t happen again until maybe February. Now that everyone knows that he wants out, he has destroyed all of his trade value.(The little he did have came for the EuroCup MVP) And you better believe that there is no way that the Jazz will just release him form his contract like they did with Fish. He will either suck it up and play(hopefully hard, but probably not) and try to increase his trade value, or he will sit on the bench on the inactive list like AI did until the organization can find a beneficial trade for the team. The only way it will be any different if he doesnï¿½t show up to training camp...

Jayson | 4:38 p.m. Sept. 21, 2007

Man how does such a guy go from such a stud to such a dud in the course of only one year....

Fernando Arias | 5:34 p.m. Sept. 21, 2007

I'm amazed how anyone in their right mind could even think of blaming Coach Sloan (who's one of, if not the, best coaches in the game) and Jazz Management (which is also top-notch) for AK's mental breakdown.

After the Jazz signed Boozed and Memo on the Free Market, you guys still pretend players just don't want to be in Utah because of the coaching...

The truth: the only problem Utah has as a destination is that it's not a major ad market and players won't get huge endorsements in Utah (at least not as huge as if they played in L.A. or N.Y.) That's it. End of sentence. It's got nothing to do with Mormons or coaching or the organization. To pretend otherwise is, at best, disingenuous.

The only players who don't want to play for Coach Sloan are players that are lazy or ego-maniacal. Do you really want those types of players on your team? I don't!

WorldPeace | 5:34 p.m. Sept. 21, 2007

I believe we should all love one another despite the existence of the Soviet Union.

Alexy | 5:38 p.m. Sept. 21, 2007

The facts:

AK is a terrible shooter (bottom 10%), fantastic defender, and a very good forward. When he is traded, he will do much damage to the Jazz defensively and inside the perimeter.

Sloan is the worst coach in the NBA for young guys. I hope he doesn't turn Morris Almond into DeShawn Stevenson. The Jazz will be better off with another coach.

Larry Miller must stop crying on TV.

Mario Vancouver WA | 5:58 p.m. Sept. 21, 2007

Thank God AK'S wife Starches his shirts Becuse its painfully obvious the kid has no SPINE to hold himself up i will bet you he has a heart about the size of a pee! I would rather the Jazz let him go

Mike In Cali | 6:01 p.m. Sept. 21, 2007

I will be willing to bet anything, that when all is said and done, AK will be back in Utah. Mark my words, I think will tweak the system to help him get more involved, but he will be back. Just watch.

AK = Baby | 6:02 p.m. Sept. 21, 2007

When Sloan is done coaching and gone, that is when fans will understand how good of a coach he realy is. But hopefully Miller can find a good baby sitter to take his place for all the whinners that play nowdays.

Marky Mark | 6:23 p.m. Sept. 21, 2007

Except for Miller and his big mouth, I have little complaint about the Jazz. If AK can't fit in (he did have some outstanding playoff cames - especially when the guards were hurt) then he deserves to try elsewhere. NOBODY wants to play in Utah? Sloan drives players away? Really? Your friends cousins friend who was recently outed? Fine. Anyone else? Let them go. Now if Miller would stop his fanboy crying and moaning and act like an adult things would be much better. His comments about AK just before playoffs were an embarrassment. He does it all the time. It's like a any business owner blasting an employee to the media. How stupid do you have to be to not see that? Yeah, we know this guy. unfortunately.

lamonte | 7:10 p.m. Sept. 21, 2007

to Lamonte - The jazz made the playoffs for 17 years straight. The only team with a longer record of consecutive playoff appearances was Portland. Not Chicago, not the Lakers, and especially not the Spurs even come close to that record of consistancy. I already acknowledged that the Jazz have not won a champiuonship. What did the Spurs do before Tim Duncan? What will they do after Tim Duncan?

And stop using my name for your handle!

Sparks 24 | 8:14 p.m. Sept. 21, 2007

Mike don't kid yourself Fish wanted out of Utah and he lied and found a way out. He took advantage of Larry Millers kindness. I have lost all respect for Derek Fisher. Teh Jazz need AK47 and he is what he is today because fot eh Utah Jazz period.

Rich | 8:33 p.m. Sept. 21, 2007

Ivan,
Though Kirilenko wants out of Utah, that should not cause you to lose your common sense. When Andre said he had a disappointing season, he thought of himself, not of the team. The Jazz had a great season and an outstanding playoffs. Even if Andre had played to his full potential, I think the Spurs would have prevailed. Parker and Ginobili are too breaking down the defense, and Duncan is one of the top five or six post players of all time. The Jazz have been so consistently excellent for years because Sloan has had the power to do what is right, whether that means benching a highly paid prima donna who takes too many bad shots or makes too many turnovers. Sloan has great respect as one of the top coaches the NBA has ever had. Could any other coach have done any better with the Jazz roster? Do you think Phil Jackson would have won the championship if he had been the Jazz coach and Sloan had been the Bulls coach back in '96 and '97? No way.

James Dixon | 8:42 p.m. Sept. 21, 2007

All I can say Is ! Sloan please go back to
the Farm. AK please do not leave us...
I have tired of hearing the negative Jerry Sloan..
and I love watching AK..he is the most important
man on this team....

Netmaster | 8:50 p.m. Sept. 21, 2007

Sloan critics: You conveniently ignore records, statistics, history, facts and reality. Just look at the players the Jazz have lost to other teams -- most couldn't did nothing. The best of them didn't seem to improve under other coaches. I'm thinking of Keefe, Russell, Shandon Anderson, Eisley, Les, Rudd and others. The best players we lost were in expansion drafts: Curry and Pavlovic. The Jazz were too good for their own good. They never had a lottery pick until Deron Williams, and O'Connor, Sloan and Miller took grief for picking him over C Paul. Remember, the fans booed when Utah picked Stockton.

AK is fun to watch when he hustles, but it's painful to see him try to create off the dribble because shoots poorly and makes many turnovers. Unless he improves his attitude and gives 100% in trying for steals, blocks and rebounds, we don't need him. Andre would shoot no better if he got more shots; he didn't shoot better when he was our main guy. Take away his dunks, and he's a 30-35% shooter.

Jazz Gazer | 9:05 p.m. Sept. 21, 2007

Serious PR Issues, Your long list is awfully long -- two names. One is at the twilight of his career and probably would have stayed if it weren't for his daughter's illness. The other is a selfish prima donna who wants more shots even though he can't shoot. Sloan would like more players like Fisher. He could use AK if he hustles and does what he does best -- rebounding, quick inside dishes, blocks and steals. But the exact opposite of Sloan's ideal Jazz player is a selfish prima donna who complains more than he performs. We could use somebody like Magic Johnson, who gave up salary in order to get another good player on the Lakers' roster. That's because he wanted to win, not score more points.

Jazz Boy | 9:24 p.m. Sept. 21, 2007

Sloan took the Jazz to the playoffs every single year until his main go-to guy was Andrei Kirilenko.

All over | 9:27 p.m. Sept. 21, 2007

Stop it. period. It's gone too far. Sloan AK all need to go for good to save Jazz. Period.

Replace Sloan? | 9:47 p.m. Sept. 21, 2007

I haven't heard anybody name a Sloan replacement. That's because decent coaches a few and far between.

Here's what would happen if Sloan were fired: immediately everyone would go into a panic. Because who are you going to hire to replace Sloan?

Let me hear just one name. One guy who could come in and do the job Sloan has done.

Organizations who fire guys like Sloan fall apart. Most teams are coaching carousels because A) they are idiots and won't leave a team/staff together long enough to see if they can play and B) there aren't any coaches like Jerry Sloan around and these teams keep looking for one.

Firing sloan would be the beginning of the end. There are only so many legends to go around fellas.

Seattle Jazz Fan | 10:01 p.m. Sept. 21, 2007

To "the LA Jazz fan" and "the other LA Jazz fan". You guys are studs! My two favorite teams are the Utah Jazz and any team that beats LA.

As a side note, I'm sure that it would never fly in the NBA but if it were up to me I would dispense with the outragiously high guaranteed contracts and offer moderate guaranteed money with a good share of he money performance based. That might be the answer to guys failing ot stay motivated when they get the big deal. Like I said, the players union would never allow contracts like this but it would solve these types of problems.

As for Kirilenko, I just keep hoping that he will come around and decide that he has as much of a chance of winning a title here as anywhere else and if he is willing to play the role it just might happen. With him at full speed, we are a pretty good team.

Cooling down | 10:12 p.m. Sept. 21, 2007

I have decided that it is pointless to comment any more about this subject, because nothing is going to change. Let me paint a picture: Next season, AK will stay in Utah, Sloan will still be coaching. No blockbuster trades will happen, and Miller's not going to cut AK loose out of his contract.

Big surprise.

GNM | 10:59 p.m. Sept. 21, 2007

Who sets players salaries anyway? Does the player? Who determined Kirilenko should get the maximum allowable? Was it our capable, visionary Jazz management? Surely in their wisdom they had criteria for the decision.

Where does the money to pay Kirilenko's salary come from? Does all that money really come from the pockets of Utah people who write so wonderfully?

What an impressive group? Profoundly capable; amazing wisdom,insight and understanding! I guess there is no doubt as to the reasons AK wants out; no wonder Sloan is still here. Do what you can Jazz. Here's hoping you don't lose anymore starters. Here's hoping you find away to help the youngsters develop.

Ian | 11:08 p.m. Sept. 21, 2007

Previous "Coach(es) of the Year" - Sam Mitchell, Mike D'Antoni, Rick Carlisle, Doc Rivers, Mike Schuler. Any "better" than Sloan? Nope. Not even close.

Frank Layden and Tom Nissalke won "Coach of the Year" honors. Either one of them "better" than Sloan? Nope.

Winning NBA "Coach of the Year" is like being elected cheerleader in junior high: part luck, part being "cute." It's a popularity contest, plain and simple.

Apparently Jerry Sloan is not lucky or cute and, with some "Weiner Boys," not particularly popular, but, Jerry Sloan is one heckuva coach and a good man.

To date, Coach Sloan has not won "Coach of the Year." John Stockton and Karl Malone never won an NBA championship. Yet, when AK and the rest of the "Weiner Boys" are long forgotten Sloan, Stockton, and Malone will be remembered as three of the best ever to be associated with the game.

SMW | 11:19 p.m. Sept. 21, 2007

Slone will be here.
AK will be here.
JAZZ will win a lot of games.

Release | 12:01 a.m. Sept. 22, 2007

Let Kirelenko go back to Russia. It's embarassing that he's the highest paid player on the Jazz considering the Jazz have Williams, Boozer, and Memo. All he really wants to do is play Xbox 360 all night long with his cronies. Max money player averaging 8 points a game?

Free Pass | 12:07 a.m. Sept. 22, 2007

As a Jazz fan,new truck owner,and American.I feel MASHED.

Free Pass | 12:22 a.m. Sept. 22, 2007

As a Jazz Fan, new truck owner,and Utahn,I feel Mashed.I will choose D Will.and Co.

AK better get a good lawyer | 8:22 a.m. Sept. 22, 2007

He will not be playing ball in Russia until he satisfies (some way) his contract with the Jazz. That will not be easy or cheap for him. The Jazz have no choice but to make it very difficult--otherwise prima donnas around the league would take note and hold their teams hostage more than they already do. The Jazz are living up to their end of the deal by paying AK and if AK has any integrity at all he should live up to his end. He should come back, play hard, and wait for a trade. All he has done at this point is make himself look like a whining Euro pansie who can not play in the sandbox so he is gone home to pout. What a puss.

Get ready to play hardball (if you won't play basketball) AK--the Jazz lawyers will be contacting you if you do not show up at camp. Your first contact will probably/should be a huge fine for breech of contract!!!

Jazz???? | 2:52 p.m. Sept. 22, 2007

Will never win title. No doubt about it.

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