Kirilenko wants out of the NBA!

[Gedas]

A. Kirilenko recently said, that he is ready to refuse his 63 mil. dollars over the next four years, to be able to play in Europe and "feel the pleasure of basketball".

Recently he led the Russian national team to the Gold medal in the European championship and now he is saying, that he want's to play in Russia.

I can't give you a source, because I read it in a Lithuanian news portal and they didn't give a link to it.

[[Q]]

well published reports in the US have showed he definitely wanted out of Utah, maybe not the NBA. but what's your boy Jasikevicius gonna do now? go back to Greece and play for Panthinianokopolis or however their name is spelled

[Gedas]

Jasikevicius has less than 48 hours to decide, because he cannot sign with anyone yet, after braking the contract.

But he will sign to either to Panathinaikos for 7 mil. Euros in two years (With taxes) and get even more, than he got in the NBA, or he'll sign for the minimum with Celtics, Miami. There are a couple of more multi-million offers from Europe, but he will probably choose PAO in Europe.

[Matt]

If Utah doesn't release him from his contract he's stuck!

[Cartar]

In here he says he wants to leave Jazz:
http://www.fiba.com/pages/eng/fc/news/l ... /arti.html

[Sauru]

If Utah doesn't release him from his contract he's stuck!

i wouldnt mind being stuck for 63 million

[Mayerhendrix]

The Jazz probably wouldn't mind getting rid of him either, he's a cancer to the organization. $63,000,000 and he doesn't give them a tenth of what he's worth.

[-Young Buck-]

The Jazz probably wouldn't mind getting rid of him either, he's a cancer to the organization. $63,000,000 and he doesn't give them a tenth of what he's worth.

Thats a good point. Sure he is an all round type of player with good D. But he is being paid way too much, and isnt even really a superstar.

[JT_55]

"feel the pleasure of basketball"

Why don't he want to feel the pleasure of $63 million bucks?

[benji]

Except, for the years prior to the last one? You know, when he was easily one of the 15-20 best players in the league?

[CERVANTES]

AK47 is a very intelligent player, I hope he is as smart in real life than he is in a bastekball court. He said something like he preffered to stay in Russia rather than returning to the Jazz. I think he's frustrated with his role on the team now, but he's on a winning team, with Deron, Booz-Cola Boozer, Okur and that guy... Milsap. They could easily be on the western finals again, and if they don't play against Spurs they can go to the finals. He just has to give all he has as a basketball player. If his role is to be an all-around forward, he should shut up and play, because they're paying him, that's all.

[Fitzy]

The Jazz probably wouldn't mind getting rid of him either, he's a cancer to the organization. $63,000,000 and he doesn't give them a tenth of what he's worth.

Thats a good point. Sure he is an all round type of player with good D. But he is being paid way too much, and isnt even really a superstar.

not after his last season, i thought even though the year was a revelation for utah he struggled with form, 8 ppg and 4 rpg, thats not good for him considering he averaged double that the season before, and an extra block

[[Q]]

i think kirilenko's biggest problem now is that they expect him to be the Bryon Russell of this Jazz team. Russell was a pretty good shooter if left open but that's not AK's game. his style doesn't really fit well with Sloan's offense.

[Fitzy]

i agree, he might be standing in the way of the young teams progress and improvement

[benji]

He's only 25.

[Mayerhendrix]

Yeah, he's been in the league a long time but he was drafted at an incredibly young age. Youngest European ever drafted, I think?

[Fitzy]

hes been in the league for 6 years

[Indy]

Yeah, he's been in the league a long time but he was drafted at an incredibly young age. Youngest European ever drafted, I think?

Darko was 17 when he was drafted, if I remember correctly. I know they had to change the rules to allow him to participate in the draft.

[The X]

I can understand why he would want to walk away from the money....he already has enough money to last a lifetime, he has proved himself (All-Star & All-Defensive) in the top league in the World, but he wants the enjoyment that he felt playing the game....it's turned into more of a job than a game anymore, but that's pro sports for you I guess....I think him playing & doing well with Russia this offseason has brought some of the enjoyment back into the game & he wants to build on that....

I really hope the Jazz deal him, or let him get out of contract for nothing....I'd like to see him stay in the NBA & play for a team that will use his strengths....Utah is clearly not the right place for him....

[Anthony15]

They should just trade him to Phoenix for Marion, otherwise he'll leave soon.

[Christopherson]

Utah is not a good place for Marion. It doesn't suit his style. Sloan likes the half court too much. Marion thrives in the fast break game.

[shadowgrin]

Utah should just trade Kirilenko to Philly.
Ok, I'm delusional.

"[Sloan's] main method to motivate players is to create a feeling of guilt. Our wages, our errors in games and whatever we do beyond playing for the Jazz is also an excuse to criticize us.

No wonder I've never seen Karl Malone and John Stockton smile while on the court.

"I have never told it to anybody but a few weeks ago, I talked to the general manager of Utah, Kevin O'Connor. I told him that I don't see myself in the team and want to leave. Quite clearly, Utah and me see my place and role in the team differently.

"I don't want myself and my contract to be a burden for the club. I want the club to continue in its own direction. It's their choice. I have only one request. Let me, myself, go in the direction I want to go.

"I don't want to be there and mechanically fulfill a contract. Unfortunately, it's been more than a week, but I haven't heard from the Jazz leadership. There's no response negative or positive and this silence is just one more evidence of the way they treat me.

"Nevertheless, I'm really hopeful that Utah Jazz leadership will realize that our relationship is over and it's time for us to part ways."

Wow, he's making the Jazz feel/look guilty with those statements. He's applying what he learned from Sloan.

[Andrew]

I can understand why he would want to walk away from the money....he already has enough money to last a lifetime, he has proved himself (All-Star & All-Defensive) in the top league in the World, but he wants the enjoyment that he felt playing the game....it's turned into more of a job than a game anymore, but that's pro sports for you I guess....I think him playing & doing well with Russia this offseason has brought some of the enjoyment back into the game & he wants to build on that....

I really hope the Jazz deal him, or let him get out of contract for nothing....I'd like to see him stay in the NBA & play for a team that will use his strengths....Utah is clearly not the right place for him....

That's probably part of it and the fact he enjoyed success with the Russian national team might have rekindled a desire to play in his home country but more than anything I'd say it's frustration with his new role on the Jazz and being lower in the pecking order despite being a very talented player. My guess is that if he was on a team where he was more satisfied with his role then he wouldn't be so willing to walk away from $63 million.

[jonthefon]

Jerry Sloan won't budge. Trust me. I think QBaller was right when he said that Utah wanted Kirilenko to be the Bryon Russell of the team (great defender, takes threes when left open). He wants to be the go-to guy.

[The X]

I think AK47 wants to float offensively & be opportunistic....that's where he gets most of his scoring opportunities....unfortunately, you can't do that in Sloan's offence....