1130 km east of Moscow, Ural region, a small place called Izhevsk.
The place itself is insignificant, and it can only be found on large-scale maps.
But it is here that the great Kalashnikov, the god of the army fans, has created the world famous assault rifle AK-47. It was 1948 at the time.
33 years later, another AK-47 was born here. He is No. 47 of the NBA Jazz, Andre Kirilenko.
His English name is Andrei Kirilenko, and the first two letters of the name are AK.
AK's father used to be a football player and her mother also played basketball. The genetics of excellent genes combined with acquired efforts; before entering the NBA, whether in China or in Europe, AK has made remarkable achievements.
In 1995 and 1996, AK won the national championship for the 14-year-old and 16-year-old age group basketball leagues respectively on behalf of the city of St. Petersburg;
In 1997, he joined the Spartak team in St. Petersburg. At the age of 15, he became the youngest player in the history of the Russian Super League.
In 1997, he participated in a training camp for teenagers born in 80 and 81 in Adidas in Moscow and was named the best player in the training camp.
By the way, he won the championship in the dunk contest held in the training camp.
There was a mysterious guest in the judges of the dunk contest: Kalim Abdul-Jabbar.
Then there was a series of dazzling genius juvenile-style performances. All kinds of records and honors were soft.
In the 00-01 season, the famous sports media "Basket News" in France had to come up with a summary and confessions, and dedicated the title of "Mr. Basketball of Europe" to the 00-01 season.
At this point, he did not need to prove anything on the Russian and European courts.
On June 30, 1999, he made the youngest record for the Nth time.
18-year-old 4 months and 12 days, the youngest European player selected by the NBA.
And, the first European player to be selected in the first round.
This American does not feel bad about the above record: For example, the Jazz team decided to let him come back to Europe for another two years.
——Two years later, AK became a European basketball boy and it was famous in the world. The NBA could no longer find a reason to reject him.
The NBA rookie season began. In the first half of the season, he became the team's most important backup. In the second half of the season, he was the team's main small forward.
- The never-ending run - flexible position - tirelessly cover for teammates, these qualities to impress a head coach simply not too easy.
The NBA cannot ignore his existence more and more:
On November 6, 2001, he gave Jordan two hot pots.
On March 6, 2002, he missed Kobe Bryant's nine consecutive shots in the second half.
By the way, the audience gave O'Neal three big hats.
At the end of his rookie season, he averaged 10.7 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 1.4 steals and 1.9 blocks. He filled the data column handsomely and was selected as the best freshman first team.
Afterwards, it was the second season that was not a surprise. In the 03-04 season, Stockton retired, Marlon left Los Angeles for the championship ring and the Jazz faced rebuilding. Kirilenko took over as leader and led the Jazz players to a 42-40 record.Averaged 16.5 points, 8.1 rebounds per game, 3.1 assists, 1.9 steals, 2.8 blocks per game, invincible overall data, and played 5X5 data in two single games.
This data was later called Kirilenko data.
In the summer of 004, the Jazz received high salaries, and Boozer and Okur were dug up from the Cavaliers and Pistons. Utah's Syracuse is in full swing, but only two serious injuries have found Kirilenko.But there is also good news.
In the draft of that year, the Jazz traded up with three first-round draft picks, and he got the probe of DeLong Williams.
In the 05-06 season, AK continued to suffer from injuries. Fortunately, after the return, the skill has not diminished. Boozer, who has got rid of injuries, also played the All-Star game in the second half of the season. DeLong gradually stabilized after half a season of tempering. Turkey's Okur, who had been up and down the previous season, played in 82 regular-season games and became the team's scoring and rebounding king.
- In this way, a new jazz full of young talents is coming out.
However, as you know, Kirilenko has not been able to become a basketball hero in line with the mainstream concept of the NBA:
Neither Jordan nor Bryant from the United States nor Dirk, Parker or Nash from a foreign country.
He combined the stability of European players and the toughness of American players. He is a versatile forward and defender who runs like a spiderman.
However, in the fast-growing NBA, he lacks the skills and shooting skills of the defender, coupled with a series of injuries, even if he has an incomparable Yingwu, cold and awkward, it will inevitably be like a medieval swords and shields samurai. Was annihilated in the smoke of firearms.
For this unique Russian forward, if you need a game to interpret him perfectly, then I will give you a video of the Jazz game against the Lakers on January 3, 2006, and then walk away in silence.
In that game, Kirilenko scored 14 points, 9 assists, 8 rebounds, 6 steals and 7 blocks. The only 5X6 performance in NBA history.
Later, such performances were often called Kirilenko style performances.
It was also during that season that he became the only outside shot blocker in NBA history.
Of course, when all this is happening, you will never think that this is already his most beautiful time.
In the 06-07 season, the Jazz re-entered the Western Conference finals nine years later. But this year was the year when AK left the altar.
The Jazz deposed former all-round leader, reusing Deron + Boozer; regained the 1-4 dual-core familiar routine.
This year, the fans saw a lot of things: AK's dive data, numerous external shots, unrequited Western Conference finals, and psychological gaps from the core to the Dragons.
And there is no record of where to come from, bury the rocket's three pointers.
After this, the AK47, with its cool eyes, sharp lines, and handsome face, had no more majestic heroes in the NBA.
After the end of the 06-07 season, he reached the international arena.
led the Russian team upset to win the European Championship and get the most valuable player.
Then threatened to leave the jazz.
-- In the 07-08 season, Kirilenko played in 72 games as a starting small forward and showed mediocre performance.
-- In the 08-09 season, Kirilenko played in 67 games as a backup small forward and was a mediocre player.
- In the summer of 2011, the NBA was shut down and Kirilenko returned to Russia to join the Moscow Central Army. After returning to the NBA, he reached Brooklyn from Minnesota and then to Philadelphia, where he frequently lost his favor. On February 22, 2015, the 76ers announced that the team had laid off Kirilenko. At this point, he had already retired from the national team and his journey to the NBA came to an end.