I want to be where people need me.
September 21st, 2007 by 
Basketball John
In Friday’s edition of the Sports-Express, Andrei Kirilenko states:
I would like to continue my career in Russia as I want to be where people need me and I can feel that my country needs me now.
He doesn’t want to go back to Utah because Sloan told him at the end of the year that ‘”we will be still playing the way we did [last year].” I take that to mean that AK would still be the third or fourth option on offense. Yet Andrei goes on to say:
Yet I don’t want to be traded: I don’t want to be part of this system.
Is he talking about getting out of the NBA all together? There have been rumors that he could still make an eight-digit salary playing for a Russian or European team professional team. It seems like he doesn’t want to be part of the NBA at all. In fact, he states:
I would like to continue my career in Russia as I want to be where people need me and I can feel that my country needs me now.
If by some chance he does go back to playing in Russia or Europe, it would certainly be one of the first times that an NBA-caliber player has voluntarily left the NBA. It is possible with the NBA/FIBA/Europe agreement, but how could one of those teams possibly be able to buy out AK’s contract from the Jazz? It wouldn’t have to be for the full amount I’m sure, but it would still have to be a significant amount I would think. It would have to at least protect the Jazz in some way so that if AK changes his mind in a year or two, he can’t just sign somewhere as a free agent.
It sure seems like he’s been homesick or something for a while. He stated that he talked with KOC before the tournament about getting traded and that it didn’t have an effect on his decision. But you have to believe that winning the tournament and the rock star status that has been bestowed upon him sure reinforced his decision.
I still think that Masha is the biggest factor behind this whole thing. Like another recent departure, I believe the wives are calling the shots for the most part. I know that if my wife didn’t like where we were at, I would hear about it every day and eventually I would probably cave in. Wives have been the subject of rumors for other Jazz men departures and also for failed bids to bring players in.
I don’t see AK reporting for training camp come October 1st. He’ll hold out until he gets what he wants. But until then he won’t be able to sign anywhere that has an agreement with the NBA.
Is it too late to return my Kirilenko jersey?
Posted in Andrei Kirilenko, Andrei Quotes | 
September 21st, 2007 at 1:28 pm
I don’t really see how Masha could be at fault in this situation. With her shop she opened last year and the 8 digit salary AK pulls down, I don’t think that she’s strong-arming Andrei to Moscow. If there’s any obvious root to Andrei’s discontent, it was made unmistakably clear throughout last season and the playoffs. He is not happy being a system player for Jerry Sloan. If Masha’s to blame for anything, it’s probably looking out for her husband and basically saying that if it’s so awful here, he should go somewhere where he’s happy. What’s wrong with that?
The interesting question this whole thing brings, though, is given Andrei’s general feelings about playing here and the recognition that Europe is probably a better option for him (though I don’t think by any means he’d turn down moves to Phoenix or even Toronto), how much more difficult will it be for the Jazz to sign free agents? I mean, we’ve already had a very difficult time with American born players, what happens when the best player in the European Championships acknowledges that he’s not afforded an opportunity to play here matching his relative to his skill level, and it’s worth forgoing the max contract he has here to play somewhere he’s afforded happiness? How many Euro’s, given that, are going to jump to play in Salt Lake now, Krylo Fesenko (probably rocking the D-League anyway) excluded.
And given the way the world’s caught up to the US in basketball, it’s not exactly like he’s walking in the footsteps of José Ortiz here.
September 21st, 2007 at 3:56 pm
Thanks for the post.
I don’t think she’s the only reason, but I think with both of them back in Russia, they felt back at home. And I shouldn’t have said the biggest reason. Significant is probably more like it. There’s no question his role in the offense along with his clashes with Sloan were the other main reasons. I don’t think they care too much about the money because they can make pretty significant rubles playing there. And I don’t think there’s anything wrong with her wanting to be back in Russia or looking out for AK, I just think she’s part of the reason.
I don’t think they let him walk away like Fisher. And I don’t think the NBAPA would let them either. I think he gets traded. But if not, then some Euro team buys out his contract with a provision that he can’t sign with another NBA team for another 4 years (what’s left on his contract).
Should be an interesting couple of weeks.
Thanks again for the post.