By Eurohoops team / info@eurohoops.net
Andrei Kirilenko reveals the origins of his nickname, AK47, and reviews the highlights of his career, which include signing his first professional contract with Spartak St. Petersburg, moving to CSKA Moscow, playing in the NBA All-Star Game, and being Russia’s flag bearer at the Olympic Games in the latest episode of The Kyle Zone.
“To be honest, it was an easy decision,” Kirilenko said of returning home to play for CSKA in the summer of 2011, as adapted by euroleague.net. “I decided for half a year I wanted to play in Russia, I wanted to play for my fans, I wanted to play when I’m still in prime time, feel good. I signed a contract with CSKA, which was my last club in Russia. I had a tremendous time with a great team. And from a chemistry standpoint, you could feel right away something clicked.”
“The first time I got my salary, I came home and I had like $1,500 dollars in my pocket and my family combined made like $600. I brought it home and I’m like, ‘Guys, right here!'” Kirilenko recalled. “My family was not a wealthy family. Any money I could bring was very valuable, very needed for the family. I remember with the first salary, we bought a TV, with the second salary we bought like a washing machine.”
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Photo credit: EuroLeague