Andrei Kirilenko, a basketball player whose biography is inextricably linked with sports, has for many years been one of the most successful representatives of the Russian school. In his arsenal there are a huge number of awards - cups and medals. Moreover, it was he who headed the Basketball Federation (RBF) from 2015. That is why many readers will be interested to know the biography and interesting facts from the life of this though young, but already well-known 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 a coach of one of the Leningrad football teams. Basketball was the mother of Andrei. During her professional career, she has performed in fairly well-known clubs: Hammer and Sickle, Spartak, Petrel, Skorohod.
And although the family of the future athlete was constantly living in Leningrad, in the last months of pregnancy, Andrei's mother went to 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 hometown on the Neva, where the famous basketball player spent his childhood and youth. Andrey Kirilenko at an early age became interested in football, then swimming and handball. However, he soon decided that he would only associate his life with basketball.
For the first time, the boy began to engage in this sport at a children's school in the Frunze district of his native Leningrad, present-day St. Petersburg. After some time, the guy was assigned to the hometown team. It was playing in its composition, the basketball player Andrei Kirilenko achieved his first triumph, having won the Cup of Russia 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 of his career. They became Spartak. Having made its debut in January 1997, the basketball player Andrei Kirilenko was named the youngest player in the history of the domestic championship. At that time, the young man was only sixteen years old.
And although in the first season the athlete spent only three games on the floor, however, next year he achieved that he would be made the main player of the team. With his excellent game, Andrei Kirilenko managed to attract the attention of the coaches of Moscow CSKA, who in the summer of 1998 lured a promising young player to him.
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 “army team” he won the Russian championship. The CSKA team in the Euroleague reached the quarter finals, and this was a very good experience for the novice player. The 1999/2000 season turned out to be a very successful start for Andrey Kirilenko. Having become to collect thirteen or more points for the game, he 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 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 was the most difficult for CSKA in recent years. The team, left without medals, lost its former enthusiasm. Her only bright spot, especially against the backdrop of general gloom, was still the brilliant play of the young striker.
Transition to the NBA
As a result, at the end of 2001, the leader of the “army”, 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 attackers.
It was in the team from Utah that Kirilenko managed to achieve his most significant victories. However, he could not become an NBA champion. Despite this, the Russian station 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.
Succession
In 2007-2012, according to the European International Basketball Federation, Andrei Kirilenko 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 the Russian national team, 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 national 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 VTB United League champion, but later again moved overseas. The next stage in the career of this star striker was the Minnesota Timberwolves, followed by the Brooklyn Nets club, where the illustrious player played until 2014. The completion of his career took place in 2015 (CSKA).
Personal life
In 2001, at the age of twenty, Andrei married Maria Lopatova, the daughter of a well-known basketball player. She is eight years older than her husband. However, the age difference does not affect his family happiness, as Andrei Kirilenko himself says. A basketball player with his wife brings up four children: three sons - Fedor, Stepan and Andrey, as well as a daughter, Alexander, whom they adopted in 2009.
During the NBA seasonal games, spouses with children lived in their home in Salt Lake City, and the rest of the time they lived in Moscow or France.
