Who is Andrei Kirilenko?
The commissioner of the Russian Basketball Federation is Andrei Kirilenko, a basketball executive of Russian and American descent.
Additionally, he played in the National Basketball Association (NBA) in the past.
Young basketball player Kirilenko started out in Russia and quickly made it to the NBA in 1999.
He had a large frame and was a skilled player on both offense and defense.
Despite mostly playing forward, the NBA three times selected him for the All-Defensive Team.
He played in the NBA for three different teams during the course of almost fifteen years in America. As a result, in 2011, he was granted American citizenship.
His supporters dubbed him the “AK- 47” because of the jersey number he wore, his initials, and the place he was from.
While playing basketball in Russia and the NBA, the AK-47 garnered a plethora of honors and achievements.
He also had success for his national teams, which he started playing for in 1999.
Due to his efforts, the International Basketball Federation twice named him Europe’s Male Player of the Year.
Additionally, this article will cover his life in the Soviet Union, his time playing in leagues as a youngster, and his NBA career.
We’ll also catch a glimpse of his post-retirement work to promote basketball.
Here are some quick facts about Andrei Kirilenko, though, before that.
Relationship Details, Andrei Kirilenko is Married?
Masha Kirilenko, a well-known Russian businesswoman, and musician is wed to Andrei Kirilenko. She is known to her followers by her stage name, MaLo.
In the late 1990s, Kirilenko had first encountered Natasha at a youth basketball event in Moscow. He was still a teenager at the time, but he had already begun to lay the groundwork for his entry into the professional league.
The pair quickly clicked, and little Andrei even made an appearance in one of her music videos.
When he started playing for the Utah Jazz in the NBA, they eventually got married and moved to the United States together.
Masha holds numerous degrees and is a native Russian. She completed her undergraduate studies in linguistics at the Moscow University of Foreign Languages first.
She afterward attended the Academy of National Economy and graduated with an MBA.
She also holds master’s degrees in psychology and TV and video production from two US and UK colleges.
Masha and Andrei both currently have dual citizenship. She too became a citizen of the US in 2011.
She is not only a vocalist but also an entrepreneur and the current CEO of the renowned Fashion IQ.
The lovely couple has been blessed with four kids. Fyodor, their first child, was born in 2002.
In addition, Stepan and Andrey, their two boys, were born in 2007 and 2015, respectively. They also have a daughter, Alexandra, who was born in 2005.
Masha is a very liberal woman with an unexpected outlook on relationships. She once said, for instance, that if Andrei wanted to, she would let him cheat on her once a year.
Andrei, who adores her dearly, does not want to do it.
Quick facts about Andrei Kirilenko
| Full Name | Andrei Gennadyevich Kirilenko |
| Known As | Andrei Kirilenko |
| Date of Birth | February 18, 1981 |
| Birth Place | Izhevsk, the USSR (now Russia) |
| Nick Name | AK- 47 |
| Religion | Christianity |
| Nationality | Russian / American |
| Zodiac Sign | Aquarius |
| Age | 41 years old |
| Height | 2.06 m (6 feet 9 inches) |
| Weight | 235 lb (107 kg) |
| Hair Color | Light brown |
| Eye Color | Blue |
| Build | Athletic |
| Father’s Name | Gennady Kirilenko |
| Mother’s Name | Olga Valentinovna |
| Siblings | Not available |
| Food habit | Non-vegetarian |
| Education | Not available |
| Marital Status | Married |
| Sexual Orientation | Straight |
| Wife | Masha Kirilenko |
| Kid | Three sons and a daughter |
| Kids’ Names | Fyodor, Stepan, Andrey, and Alexandra Kirilenko |
| Profession | Former basketball player |
| NBA Draft | 1999 / Round 1/ 24th pick overall |
| Position | Small forward / Power forward |
| League |
|
| Active Years | (1997–2015) |
| Net Worth | $50 million |
| Currently Plays For | None / Retired |
| Jersey Numbers | 47 |
| Career Highlights & Awards |
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| Social Media | |
| Merch | Jersey |
| Last Update | July 2022 |
Andrei Kirilenko: Early Life, Age, Wiki, Parents, Ethnicity
Andrei Kirilenko was born in Izhevsk, Russia, on February 18, 1981. (formerly the Soviet Union).
His ancestors hail from Leningrad (present-day St. Petersburg). But when they went to his relative’s home in that city, his mother gave birth to him.
In St. Petersburg, his father, Gennady Kirilenko, was a football coach who worked with students. Olga, Andrei’s mother, was a competitive athlete.
She was a professional basketball player in her youth, representing numerous illustrious teams like Spartak, Petrel, etc.
But four months after his birth, his mother came back, and Andrei grew up in St. Petersburg.
He competed in sports there and went to the local elementary school.
Initially, he was more interested in swimming and football. Andrei gradually switched to basketball and became significantly taller than the typical Russian child.
At age 10, he had already started taking part in organized basketball events.
In the meantime, he joined the basketball team in his hometown and regularly started competing in junior tournaments.
He thereby acquired fundamental basketball skills and successfully guided them to numerous triumphs.
Education, Schooling, University
He then abandoned his academic pursuits and focused only on pursuing a career in basketball.
Professional Career, (Former basketball player)
A career in the Profession
Russian career history
Kirilenko, a basketball prodigy from Russia, started competing professionally in 1997. He already had loyalty to Spartak Saint Petersburg, though.
At the time, he was the player of the youngest age in the Russian Super League.
Despite his youth, he had had enough experience to compete with the league’s top players.
Thus, in 1998, Andrei moved to CSKA Moscow after two years with Petersburg.
His performance proved crucial in helping Moscow win the Russian League championship in 1999.
Additionally, he made his debut on the international scene around that time, which helped him gain fame abroad.
The player entered the 1999 NBA draft as a result, and the illustrious NBA team Utah Jazz selected him.
He did, however, stay with Moscow until 2001.
He continued to play for the Russian club for two more seasons, and in 2000, he once more helped his team to the Russian Super League title.
He also won MVP honors for the competition that year.
NASCAR Career
As the 24th choice in the first round of the 1999 draft, the Utah Jazz selected 18-year-old Andrei. He was the first ever Russian to play in the NBA after being chosen.
He joined the Jazz just in 2001 after finishing his tasks with his Moscow club.
The talented young Russian was outstanding on both the offensive and defensive sides for his squad during his outstanding debut campaign.
As a result, the NBA chose him for the All-Rookie first team, and he enjoyed early success.
With an average of 10.7 points and 4.9 rebounds per game, he completed his rookie campaign.
Andrei played for the Utah Jazz for nine additional NBA seasons before 2011.
Even though he spent the majority of these years having fun while playing for the Jazz, he once considered quitting the NBA.
The club only gave him minimal playing time in the 2006–07 season, which had an impact on his stats. He found it frustrating that he could not play well.
The club eventually persuaded him, though. He continued to play for the following four seasons until they were traded to the Minnesota Timberwolves.
In the interim, he traveled back to Russia to play for his old team, CSKA Moscow, in the 2012 EuroLeague.
Kirilenko played three more seasons after his return from Europe with two different teams.
After 2011, he had only one noteworthy season, with the Timberwolves.
Despite being transferred to the Philadelphia 76ers by the Brooklyn Nets in 2015, he did not show up.
As a result, the team suspended him, and he never played again in the NBA.
He switched to playing for CSKA Moscow in the VTB League and the EuroLeague.
Finally, on June 23, 2015, he made his professional retirement announcement.
Life Following Retirement
Although Andrei stopped playing basketball in all of its forms in 2015, he is still a fan of the game.
He assumed the position of President of the Russian Basketball Federation not long after retiring. In 2020, when his first term as its leader came to an end, he was re-elected.
Additionally, he has been an active member of the FIBA central board.
Career on a national team
In addition to his club career, he has competed for Russia since he was a teenager in a number of international competitions.
At the 1999 FIBA Under-19 World Cup, where he made his international debut, he was named the competition’s Most Valuable Player.
Additionally, he made his senior national team debut at the Summer Olympics in 2000. In the basketball competition, they finished in eighth place.
He has since participated in a number of competitions, including the FIBA World Cup, EuroBasket, and others while wearing the Russian uniform.
His greatest accomplishment while playing for Russia won them the 2007 EuroBasket.
In 2013, he made his international career-ending announcement.
Recognition & Achievements
Throughout the course of his lengthy basketball career, Andrei Kirilenko collected many awards and accolades. When he made his NBA debut, he had already won the Russian league championship.
He was successful in his professional career in Russia, winning both the Russian and European League trophies.
He began playing in the NBA in the early 2000s and received numerous accolades and mentions. He never succeeded in lifting the title ring, though.
Aside from that, he had a highly successful international career with the Russian national team.
Awards
- Player of the Year in Men’s Basketball for FIBA Europe (2007, 2012)
- League MVP in Russia (2000)
- NBA’s top blocker (2005)
- MVP of VTB United League (2012)
- Player of the Year in Russia (2004, 2005, 2007, 2008)
- All-Star NBA (2004)
- The year’s Euroscar Player (2012)
- First Team All-Defense in the NBA (2006)
- Premier League MVP (2012)
- 2007, winning the EuroBasket gold medal.
- Olympic bronze medal from the 2012 season.
Net Worth, Salary, Assets
Sources claim that Andrei Kirilenko is worth around $50 million.
He made a lot of money in America playing in the NBA. He was selected by the Jazz in the 1999 draft, and the team gave him a payout of about $0.6 million even though he didn’t play in any games.
They gave him almost $0.84 for his first year with them.
As a result, the club never lost upon him, and he spent eleven seasons playing with the Jazz. For them, he had received nearly $17 million in his previous season.
During his whole NBA career, the Russian player earned up to $108 million in fortune. His salary information is available on hoops hype.
Additionally, he has made a respectable sum of money from both his professional career in Russia and his foreign career.
In the past, he also frequently made appearances in television ads. He has therefore made enough money via endorsements and merchandise sales.
Rumors and Controversy
Talking about his rumors and controversy, he has not been in any part of rumors as well as controversy to date.
What is the Height of Andrei Kirilenko? Weight, Full Body Stats
Andrei will be 41 years old in 2022. He is an Aquarius by birth sign.
Likewise, he is 6.9 feet tall (2.06 meters) and weighs about 235 pounds (107 kg). When he first started playing basketball, he was really underweight.
In addition, he has blue eyes and light brown hair that he typically keeps longer.
Social Media Accounts
In terms of social media, Andrei is not very active. He doesn’t use any other social media platforms and solely has an Instagram account.
@ak47russ on Instagram
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