Biography of Andrei Kirilenko. Professional career of basketball player Andrey Kirilenko

Andrei Gennadievich Kirilenko. Born February 18, 1981 in Izhevsk. Russian basketball player Honored Master of Sports of Russia.

Since the age of 15 in professional basketball. Plays as a small or heavy forward.

He was the leader of the Moscow CSKA - the most titled basketball club in Russia.

In 2000 he became the best player in the Russian championship.

In 2001, at the age of 20, he received an invitation to play in the NBA as part of the Utah Jazz club. In the NBA, thanks to his versatility, he has proven himself both in attack and in defense.

As part of the Russian national basketball team, he is the owner of the gold medals of the European Championship in 2007, the bronze medals of the European Championship in 2011 and the bronze medalist of the 2012 Olympic Games.

Since August 2015 - President of the Russian Basketball Federation.

The father is a sportsman in the past, he is the head coach of the Iskra women's football club (Leningrad region).

Olga Kirilenko herself played basketball and played for the women's teams Burevestnik, Spartak, Hammer and Sickle and Skorokhod. During Olga's pregnancy, Gennady Kirilenko served in the army, in a sports company, and Olga went to give birth to her mother in Izhevsk. Four months after the birth, the mother brought the future basketball player to St. Petersburg.

As a child, Andrei was fond of swimming, football, handball.

I started playing basketball at the Children's and Youth Sports School of the Frunzensky district of St. Petersburg from the 1st grade. The first coach is Alexey Vladimirovich Vasiliev. In 1995, as part of the city team, he became the Russian basketball champion among players born in 1981.

January 18, 1997 Kirilenko began his professional career as part of the St. Petersburg "Spartacus" in the 1996/97 season, becoming, at less than 16 years old, the youngest player in the championship of Russia in the history of the tournament. He played in only three games this season, but the next season he played in 41 games, averaging 11.9 points and 4.6 rebounds per game on a .521 shooting percentage from the field.

In 1997, Kirilenko took part in the European Championship among juniors, averaging 19.5 points and 10.2 rebounds, as well as making 3.9 steals per game, as a result of which he was recognized as the most valuable player of the tournament.

In the summer of 1998, Kirilenko moved to CSKA. In his first season with the capital, he averaged 12.4 points, 4.2 rebounds and 2.1 assists in 26 games during the regular season, and 5.3 points and 1.4 rebounds in seven games from the opening minutes. in European club competition. Together with the team, Kirilenko won the gold medals of the Russian championship for the first time.

June 30, 1999 Kirilenko was selected by the NBA club "Utah Jazz" under the 24th draft pick. The Russian became at that time the youngest European basketball player drafted by the National Basketball Association team. Number 13 - Andrey's traditional number - was already taken by John Amaechi, who joined Utah, but by the time of the choice, the players in the team had already nicknamed Kirilenko AK-47 and, in accordance with this nickname, he was offered game number 47.

In Utah, Kirilenko made his debut in the 2001/02 season, as a result of which he was included in the symbolic five of the best NBA rookies and took third place in the voting for the title of "rookie of the year". On average, Andrey scored 10.7 points per game (5th among all newcomers).

In the summer of 2005, the Jazz, who were third in the draft, selected Deron Williams in the first round and re-signed Andrei Kirilenko for the maximum amount. Thus, he became one of the highest paid athletes in Russia - his annual earnings in the Utah Jazz were about $ 15.3 million.

In the off-season, Andriy withdrew from the national team in qualifying for the 2007 European Championship, devoting himself to hard work on the shot with personal trainer Jeff Hornacek, but ended up having the worst season of his career.

At the end of the 2010/11 season, Andrei Kirilenko became a free agent. In connection with the NBA lockout, on October 4, 2011, Andrei signed a three-year contract with CSKA, if the lockout ended, he could return to the NBA. On December 31, 2011, Andrey Kirilenko made the final decision that he would play for CSKA until the end of the 2011/12 season. Together with the team, Andrey reached the final of the Euroleague, won the VTB United League and won the gold medals of the Russian championship.

On July 27, 2012, Andrei Kirilenko decided to take advantage of the contract option allowing him to return to the NBA and signed a contract with the club Minnesota Timberwolves. Kirilenko, playing for Minnesota, scored an average of 12.4 points, 5.7 rebounds and 1.5 steals per game. At the end of the season, Andrei decided to forgo his second year, not renew his contract with Minnesota, and became an unrestricted free agent.

In 2013, Kirilenko signed a one-year, $3.1 million contract with the club. Brooklyn Nets, owned by a Russian businessman, having previously refused a 10 millionth contract with Minnesota. On December 11, 2014, Brooklyn traded Kirilenko and Jorge Gutierrez to the Philadelphia 76ers. Due to Kirilenko's refusal to play for Philadelphia, the club disqualified the player and terminated his contract.

February 24, 2014 CSKA announced the signing of Andrei Kirilenko before the end of the season. On April 1, 2015, it was announced that Andrei Kirilenko had moved to coaching.

Having won the title of champion of Russia in the VTB United League with the team, Kirilenko announced the end of his sports career.

Andrey Kirilenko in the Russian national team:

Kirilenko made his debut with the national team in 2000 at the Sydney Olympics. He played at the European Championships 2001, 2003, 2005, 2007, the 2002 World Championship. From the first appearances for the national team, Kirilenko became the leader of the Russian team, defining its game.

Memorable for Kirilenko was the EuroBasket 2007 in Spain. The Russian national team for the first time in its history (excluding the achievements of the USSR team) became the winner of the championship of the continent. Kirilenko played several bright matches, the best of which was the semi-final with Lithuania (86:74). In this meeting, the striker scored 29 points, having implemented 9 of 11 shots from the game. As a result of the tournament, Andrey was included in the symbolic team of the tournament and was recognized as the MVP of the tournament and received the title of Honored Master of Sports of the Russian Federation.

On August 8, 2008, Andrei was honored to carry the Russian flag at the opening ceremony of the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing. The Russian team went to the Olympics with the strongest squad. In the first match, the Russians confidently outplayed Iran, but then followed by defeats from Croatia, Lithuania, Australia and Argentina. The Russian team took fifth place in the group and did not advance to the next round.

In 2009, Kirilenko refused to take part in EuroBasket 2009 due to family reasons. He also missed the FIBA ​​World Championship the following year.

In 2011, Kirilenko returned to the national team to participate in the European Championship in Lithuania. The Russians finished the tournament with only one defeat in eleven matches - against the French team in the semi-finals. In the match for third place, the Russian team beat the Macedonian team in a bitter struggle and won bronze medals. According to the results of the EuroBasket, Kirilenko entered the symbolic team of the tournament.

In 2012, he took part in the Summer Olympic Games in London, where the team won a bronze medal.

On August 13, 2012, he was awarded the medal of the Order of Merit for the Fatherland, II degree, for "great contribution to the development of physical culture and sports, high sports achievements at the Games of the XXX Olympiad in 2012 in London (Great Britain)".

In September 2013, he announced his retirement from the national team.

Master class by Andrey Kirilenko

On February 9, 2012, Andrei Kirilenko was officially registered as a confidant of the candidate for the President of the Russian Federation, Mikhail Prokhorov.

In August 2015, he was elected President of the Basketball Federation of Russia.

Andrey Kirilenko's height: 208 centimeters.

Personal life of Andrei Kirilenko:

In the summer of 2001, he married the daughter of basketball player Andrei Lopatov. She is 8 years older than him.

The couple has 4 children - sons Fedor, Stepan, Andrey (born February 9, 2015) and daughter Alexandra, who was adopted in 2009.

In 2011, Kirilenko and his wife received US citizenship.

Andrey Kirilenko and Maria Lopatova

In 2003, the Kirilenkos in Salt Lake City created a charitable foundation Kirilenko's Kids ("Kirilenko - Children!").

The official status of a charitable organization was obtained in October 2004, and since 2006 the Foundation has been legally registered in Russia.

The organization helps children's hospitals, orphanages and boarding schools, sports schools, sports veterans and those basketball players who have become disabled, and is also engaged in the development of mass non-professional children's sports.

During its existence, the Foundation has implemented many projects, including the organization of basketball tournaments among schools.

In 2012, Kirilenko transferred all the money he earned under a contract with PBC CSKA (season 2011/12) to the children's fund "Kirilenko for Children!" for charity.

Team achievements of Andrey Kirilenko:

Champion of Russia in the team of St. Petersburg in the age category not older than 1981 year of birth (1995).
Three-time Russian champion with CSKA (1999, 2000, 2012).
Champion of the VTB United League (2012, 2015).

As part of the Russian team:

Bronze medalist at the 2012 London Olympics
2007 European Champion, MVP and Best Forward of the Tournament
Bronze medalist of Europe in 2011, symbolic team of the tournament
Silver medalist at the 1997 European Youth Championship. Most Valuable Player of the Tournament
Silver medalist at the 1998 World Youth Games.

Personal achievements of Andrey Kirilenko:

FIBA Europe Player of the Year (2007, 2012)
Euroleague regular season MVP (2012)
Euroleague Defensive Player of the Year (2012)
The best player of the championship of Russia (2000)
VTB United League regular season MVP (2012)
VTB United League Final Four MVP (2012)
Member of the NBA All-Star Game (2004)
Member of the NBA Rookie Games (2002, 2003)
NBA All-Rookie Team (2002)
NBA regular season leader in block shots (2005)
3 times included in the team of all NBA defense stars: 2006 (first team); 2004, 2005 (second team)
Member of the "Star Games" of Russia (1999, 2000)
Winner of the top throw competition at the Russian All-Star Game (1999)
The youngest participant in the European All-Star Games (18 years 10 months 10 days)
Member of the Final Four of the Euroleague (2001, 2012).


Andrei Kirilenko was born on February 18, 1981 in the city of Izhevsk. He became interested in basketball professionally when he lived in St. Petersburg. There he began to participate in basketball competitions for the city team. And already in 1995, the first victory was won in the biography of Andrei Kirilenko. Then his team became the champion of Russia. In the entire history of the Russian Basketball Super League, Andrey was the youngest player (he was only 15 years old).

In 1998, the athlete began to play for CSKA - the best basketball club in Russia. Being a member of this team, Andrey Kirilenko became the champion of Russia twice: in 1999 and 2000. The season of basketball games of 2000-2001 was remarkable for a basketball player by the entry of his team into the FIBA ​​Euroleague - the most prestigious competition in Europe, and in the Final Four.

Professional sports qualities distinguish Andrey Kirilenko from other basketball players. The athlete combines excellent skills in defense, as well as successfully passed passes. Andrey has highly developed team and individual skills. The basketball player plays in the positions of heavy and light forward.

Thanks to high sports performance in June 1999, Andrei was selected to participate in the games of the Utah Jazz NBA club.

The debut game for this club in the biography of Andrei Kirilenko took place in the 2001-2002 season. The basketball player played under number 24. In the very first season, Andrey showed a highly professional game, thanks to which he was included in the top five players among newcomers. The confluence of circumstances, when the leading players of the Utah Jazz left, allowed Andrei Kirilenko to become the leading, best player on the team.

Having injured his hand in the game of the 2004-2005 season, the basketball player returned to the team the next season. In the biography of Andrei Kirilenko, the best season is, perhaps, 2005-2006. Having the highest game indicators, such as the number of assists, interceptions, covered shots, Andrey was chosen as the best player in the NBA. But already in the next season, the basketball player did not show such a brilliant game. This was facilitated by the new strategy of the coach, in which Andrei was not included in the main attacking force. The athlete even announced a possible departure if the situation does not change.

Nevertheless, Kirilenko is the greatest Russian basketball player, often playing for the Russian national team. So it was at the Olympics in Sydney in 2000, the European Championship in 2007. The successful games played by the basketball player with Lithuania and Spain contributed to Andrei winning the title of “Most Valuable Player” (MVP) in 2007.

In May 2008, a scandal erupted around the athlete, as Andrei missed a training session at Utah on the eve of an important match, which, by the way, was lost. However, the team coach took all the blame.

In July 2008, Andrei Kirilenko was chosen as the flag bearer at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. Carrying the Russian flag at the opening parade of the Olympics is a great honor for an athlete.

The physical data of the athlete: height - 206 cm, weight - 103 kg.

Biography score

New feature! The average rating this biography received. Show rating

Andrei Kirilenko, a basketball player whose biography is inextricably linked with sports, has been one of the most successful representatives of the Russian school for many years. In his arsenal is a huge number of awards - cups and medals. Moreover, it is he who has been the head of the Basketball Federation (RFB) since 2015. That is why many readers will be interested to know the biography and interesting facts from the life of this young, but already quite famous person.

Childhood

The future famous basketball player Andrei Kirilenko was born on February 18, 1981 in the city of Izhevsk. His father, also a famous athlete in the past, at the time of the birth of his first child, was already the coach of one of the Leningrad football teams. Andrey's mother was engaged in basketball. During her professional career, she performed in fairly well-known clubs: Hammer and Sickle, Spartak, Burevestnik, Skorokhod.

And although the family of the future athlete constantly lived in Leningrad, in the last months of pregnancy, Andrei's mother left for her relatives in Izhevsk. It was here that her son was born.

Only at the age of four months the child was transported back to his native city on the Neva, where the famous basketball player spent his childhood and youth. Andrei Kirilenko at an early age became interested in football, then swimming and handball. However, he soon decided that he would connect his life only with basketball.

For the first time, the boy began to engage in this sport at the children's school in the Frunzensky district of his native Leningrad, now St. Petersburg. After some time, the guy was assigned to the national team of his native city. It was playing in its composition that basketball player Andrei Kirilenko achieved his first triumph, winning the Russian Cup in one of the youngest age categories.

Professional career

According to his mentors, the boy's talent was noticeable from early childhood. Apparently, therefore, he was soon accepted into the first professional club in his career. They became Spartak. Debuting in January 1997, basketball player Andrei Kirilenko was named the youngest player in the history of the national championship. At that time, the young man was only sixteen years old.

And although in the first season the athlete played only three games on the floor, the very next year he managed to make him the main player of the team. With his excellent game, Andrei Kirilenko managed to attract the attention of the coaches of CSKA Moscow, who in the summer of 1998 lured a promising young player to their side.

Recognized leader of the "army"

The fact that their choice was made correctly, the young basketball player proved already in the first season. He began to score an average of twelve and a half points per game, and later, together with the “soldiers”, he won the Russian championship. The CSKA team in the Euroleague reached the quarterfinals, and it was a very good experience for a novice player. The 1999/2000 season turned out to be a very successful start for Andrei Kirilenko. He, having begun to score thirteen or more points per game, soon turned out to be the recognized leader of the “army”.

In the same year, the team again became the champion of Russia, and the athlete himself was awarded the title of the best player in the championship. It was then that it became clear that the athlete in the Russian championship would not stay long.

The 2000/2001 season turned out to be the most difficult for CSKA in recent years. The team, left without medals, lost its former enthusiasm. Her only bright spot, especially against the background of general despondency, was still a brilliant game of a young striker.

Transition to the NBA

As a result, at the end of 2001, the leader of the “army men”, having left his former team, moved to the overseas team “Utah Jazz”. As part of the new club, Russian basketball player Andrei Kirilenko played ten full seasons. During this period, he managed to become one of the most prominent players in the starting five and, as a result, turned into one of the highest paid strikers.

It was in the team from Utah that Kirilenko managed to achieve his most significant victories. However, he failed to become an NBA champion. Despite this, the Russian wagon several times ended up in the symbolic team of the overseas tournament, and once even played in the All-Star Game of this basketball league.

success streak

In 2007-2012, Andrei Kirilenko, according to the European International Basketball Federation, was recognized as the best striker of the Old World. His personal successes were complemented by successes as a player in the national team. Playing for Russia, this talented striker won the gold of the European championship in Spain (2007), became the bronze medalist of the same championship in Lithuania (2011). In addition, Andrei Kirilenko in 2012, together with the Russian team, reached third place in the Olympic basketball tournament.

Due to the NBA lockout in 2011, the player had to spend the 2011/2012 season in Russia. Here, as part of his native club CSKA, Kirilenko became the champion of the VTB United League, but later moved overseas again. The next stage in the career of this star striker was the Minnesota Timberwolves, followed by the Brooklyn Nets, where the famous player played until 2014. The end of his career took place in 2015 (CSKA).

Personal life

In 2001, at the age of twenty, Andrei married Maria Lopatova, the daughter of enough She is eight years older than her husband. However, the age difference does not affect his family happiness in any way, as Andrei Kirilenko himself says. The basketball player and his wife are raising their fourth children: three sons, Fedor, Stepan and Andrey, as well as a daughter, Alexandra, whom they adopted in 2009.

During the NBA season games, the couple with children lived in their home in Salt Lake City, and the rest of the time - in Moscow or France.

Despite the fact that the star athlete is always very busy, he surprisingly manages to do everything. Basketball player Andrey Kirilenko is warmly praised by everyone who knows him. He created a charitable foundation that operates simultaneously in the United States and in Russia. The purpose of this organization is to help children with disabilities. The Kirilenko Foundation also helps hospitals, sports schools and veterans. He provides assistance to orphanages and nursing homes.

Basketball player Andrei Kirilenko, whose height is two hundred and six centimeters, starred in his wife's video in 2002.

Despite rumors, he is not a relative of the famous tennis player: she is just his namesake. Although in one of the interviews, Maria Kirilenko said that she knew Andrei, and they had an agreement to jokingly call each other brother and sister, however, cousins.

In 2012, the basketball player was a confidant of Mikhail Prokhorov.

Andrei Kirilenko is an illustrious basketball player who has been one of the most prominent representatives of the Russian basketball school for many years. There are many awards in his collection, but today we will try to push sports into the background and talk about our today's hero not only as an athlete, but also as an ordinary person.

Childhood and family of Andrei Kirilenko

Andrei Kirilenko was born on February 18, 1981 in the Udmurt city of Izhevsk. The father of our today's hero - Gennady Kirilenko - was also a famous athlete in the past, and at the time of his son's birth he was already coaching one of the football teams in the Leningrad Region. As for basketball, Andrei's mother, Olga, was engaged in it. During her professional career, she managed to play in such teams as Spartak, Hammer and Sickle, Burevestnik and Skorokhod.

Andrei Kirilenko with his wife and daughter

The permanent place of residence for the family of the future athlete was the city of Leningrad. However, during pregnancy, Andrei's mother went to his mother in Izhevsk, and therefore our today's hero was born in Udmurtia. At the age of four months, the boy first appeared in the city above the Neva. It was there that the childhood and youth of the basketball player subsequently passed.

In his early years, Andrei Kirilenko was fond of football, handball and swimming. However, already in the first grade, he decided to connect his life with basketball. He began to engage in this sport at the Youth Sports School of the Frunzensky District of Leningrad (St. Petersburg). Some time later, the guy got into the city team. It was in the composition of this team that our today's hero achieved his first successes, having won the Russian Basketball Cup in one of the younger age categories.

According to one of the coaches of the young basketball player, his talent was visible from early childhood. This is probably why very soon our today's hero was part of his first professional club.

Professional career of basketball player Andrey Kirilenko

The first milestone in the sports path of Andrei Kirilenko was the St. Petersburg "Spartak". Having made his debut on the site in January 1997, our today's hero became the youngest player in the history of the Russian championship (at that time he was only sixteen years old). In his first season, Andrey played only three games on the floor, but the very next year he managed to become one of the team's main players.

With his inspired play, Andrey managed to attract the attention of CSKA Moscow, who lured the young player to him in the summer of 1998. The basketball player began to justify the trust placed in him in the first season. He scored an average of 12.5 points per game, and subsequently managed to win the Russian championship with the "soldiers". In the Euroleague, the team reached the quarterfinals of the tournament, which was also a good experience for the young player.

In the 1999/2000 season, Andrei Kirilenko began to score more than thirteen points per game, and therefore very soon became the recognized leader of CSKA. In that season, our today's hero again became the champion of Russia, and also won the title of the best player in the entire championship. At that moment, it became clear that the player would not stay in the Russian Championship.

Andrey Kirilenko in the NBA

The 2000/2001 season was the most difficult for CSKA in a long time. The team was left without medals, and the bright game of the young striker remained the only bright spot against the background of general despondency. As a result, in 2001, Andrei Kirilenko left the former team and joined the ranks of one of the clubs in the National Basketball League - the Utah Jazz.

As part of his new team, the Russian station wagon spent ten full seasons. During this time, he became one of the most notable players in his team, as well as one of its highest paid players. As part of a club from Utah, Andrei Kirilenko managed to achieve many significant victories, but he never managed to become an NBA champion. Despite this, our today's hero several times got into the symbolic team of this tournament, and also once participated in the league's all-star match. In 2007 and 2012, Andrei Kirilenko was recognized as the best player in the Old World by the European Basketball Association.

These successes were interspersed with the successes of the player won at the national team level. Playing for the national team of Russia, the talented forward won the gold of the European Championship (Spain-2007), and also became the bronze medalist of this championship (Lithuania-2011). In addition, in 2012, Andrei Kirilenko, together with the Russian national team, managed to reach third place in the Olympic basketball tournament. The player can also bring this success to his asset.

Andrei Kirilenko has an amazing tattoo

These victories brought our today's hero the title of Honored Master of Sports of Russia, as well as the Order of Merit for the Fatherland (second degree).

Due to the NBA lockout in 2011, the player spent the 2011/2012 season in Russia. As part of CSKA, he became the champion of the VTB United League, but later moved overseas again. The Minnesota Timberwolves and the Brooklyn Nets became the next stages in the career of a star forward. As part of the last of these clubs, the player still performs to this day.

Personal life, Sergey Kirilenko at present

In 2011, our today's hero married a girl named Maria Lopatova, who is the daughter of basketball player Andrei Lopatov. The girl is eight years older than her husband.

Today, the couple lives in Salt Lake City and has three children - two sons and a daughter. In addition, the spouses have real estate in Russia and France. At the moment, Andrei, his wife and children are citizens of the United States of America.

Since 2003, Kirilenko has been active in charitable activities within the framework of the Kirilenko's Kids Foundation. This organization supports the development of children's sports, and also helps people with disabilities.

In 2012, Andrei Kirilenko supported Mikhail Prokhorov during the elections in the Russian Federation and was even officially his confidant.

Andrei Kirilenko is an illustrious basketball player who has been one of the most prominent representatives of the Russian basketball school for many years. There are many awards in his collection, but today we will try to push sports into the background and talk about our today's hero not only as an athlete, but also as an ordinary person.

Childhood and family of Andrei Kirilenko

Andrei Kirilenko was born on February 18, 1981 in the Udmurt city of Izhevsk. The father of our today's hero - Gennady Kirilenko - was also a famous athlete in the past, and at the time of his son's birth he was already coaching one of the football teams in the Leningrad Region. As for basketball, Andrei's mother, Olga, was engaged in it. During her professional career, she managed to play in such teams as Spartak, Hammer and Sickle, Burevestnik and Skorokhod.

The permanent place of residence for the family of the future athlete was the city of Leningrad. However, during pregnancy, Andrei's mother went to his mother in Izhevsk, and therefore our today's hero was born in Udmurtia. At the age of four months, the boy first appeared in the city above the Neva. It was there that the childhood and youth of the basketball player subsequently passed.

In his early years, Andrei Kirilenko was fond of football, handball and swimming. However, already in the first grade, he decided to connect his life with basketball. He began to engage in this sport at the Youth Sports School of the Frunzensky District of Leningrad (St. Petersburg). Some time later, the guy got into the city team. It was in the composition of this team that our today's hero achieved his first successes, having won the Russian Basketball Cup in one of the younger age categories.

According to one of the coaches of the young basketball player, his talent was visible from early childhood. This is probably why very soon our today's hero was part of his first professional club.

Professional career of basketball player Andrey Kirilenko

The first milestone in the sports path of Andrei Kirilenko was the St. Petersburg "Spartak". Having made his debut on the site in January 1997, our today's hero became the youngest player in the history of the Russian championship (at that time he was only sixteen years old). In his first season, Andrey played only three games on the floor, but the very next year he managed to become one of the team's main players. With his inspired play, Andrey managed to attract the attention of CSKA Moscow, who lured the young player to him in the summer of 1998. The basketball player began to justify the trust placed in him in the first season. He scored an average of 12.5 points per game, and subsequently managed to win the Russian championship with the "soldiers". In the Euroleague, the team reached the quarterfinals of the tournament, which was also a good experience for the young player.

In the 1999/2000 season, Andrei Kirilenko began to score more than thirteen points per game, and therefore very soon became the recognized leader of CSKA. In that season, our today's hero again became the champion of Russia, and also won the title of the best player in the entire championship. At that moment, it became clear that the player would not stay in the Russian Championship.

Andrey Kirilenko in the NBA

The 2000/2001 season was the most difficult for CSKA in a long time. The team was left without medals, and the bright game of the young striker remained the only bright spot against the background of general despondency. As a result, in 2001, Andrei Kirilenko left the former team and joined the ranks of one of the clubs in the National Basketball League - the Utah Jazz.

As part of his new team, the Russian station wagon spent ten full seasons. During this time, he became one of the most notable players in his team, as well as one of its highest paid players. As part of a club from Utah, Andrei Kirilenko managed to achieve many significant victories, but he never managed to become an NBA champion. Despite this, our today's hero several times got into the symbolic team of this tournament, and also once participated in the league's all-star match. In 2007 and 2012, Andrei Kirilenko was recognized as the best player in the Old World by the European Basketball Association.

These successes were interspersed with the successes of the player won at the national team level. Playing for the national team of Russia, the talented forward won the gold of the European Championship (Spain-2007), and also became the bronze medalist of this championship (Lithuania-2011). In addition, in 2012, Andrei Kirilenko, together with the Russian national team, managed to reach third place in the Olympic basketball tournament. The player can also bring this success to his asset.


These victories brought our today's hero the title of Honored Master of Sports of Russia, as well as the Order of Merit for the Fatherland (second degree).

Due to the NBA lockout in 2011, the player spent the 2011/2012 season in Russia. As part of CSKA, he became the champion of the VTB United League, but later moved overseas again. The Minnesota Timberwolves and the Brooklyn Nets became the next stages in the career of a star forward. As part of the last of these clubs, the player still performs to this day.

Personal life, Sergey Kirilenko at present

In 2011, our today's hero married a girl named Maria Lopatova, who is the daughter of basketball player Andrei Lopatov. The girl is eight years older than her husband.

Today, the couple lives in Salt Lake City and has three children - two sons and a daughter. In addition, the spouses have real estate in Russia and France. At the moment, Andrei, his wife and children are citizens of the United States of America.

Since 2003, Kirilenko has been active in charitable activities within the framework of the Kirilenko's Kids Foundation. This organization supports the development of children's sports, and also helps people with disabilities.

In 2012, Andrei Kirilenko supported Mikhail Prokhorov during the elections in the Russian Federation and was even officially his confidant.