HoopsHype.com Rumors

Ricky Rubio, Andrei Kirilenko, Alexey Shved, Nikola Pekovic, JJ Barea. Minnesota has five international players on the roster, tied with Cleveland for second-most in the NBA. San Antonio has eight international players, a league record. "I think it's pretty evident to me that there's a lot of not just good players, but some of the very best players in our game who have come from overseas," Kahn said. "To me, it's just a natural extension of scouting. Just as you can't afford to be negligent about the domestic side, you can't afford to not be on top of matters internationally." NBA.com

Minnesota Timberwolves, Ricky Rubio, Nikola Pekovic, Andrei Kirilenko, David Kahn, Alexey Shved 

Q: Was the plan always to come back to the NBA? Andrei Kirilenko: Yes. There was a real possibility for me to stay in Russia, but the reason I came back to Russia (to play for CSKA Moscow last season) was because of the lockout. That was the only reason. I never really thought about staying in Russia, even though I felt great because it was home. Everything was so comfortable. But the NBA is a different stage. You always want to play against the best guys in the world. Q: Where does the bronze medal from last summer's Olympics rank for you in your career? A: This was an unbelievable experience. My previous two Olympics, Sydney and Beijing, (were) unsuccessful. So I was really looking forward to this one. It might be my last Olympics, so I'm very happy that we got a bronze medal. ESPN.com

Minnesota Timberwolves, Euroleague, Andrei Kirilenko, Russia, CSKA Moscow 

Q: What do you think about the changes FIBA is making to the international calendar? Think we'll ever get to the point where the NBA takes breaks during the season like they do in soccer, so players can join up with their national teams and play qualifying games during the (NBA's) regular season? A: To be honest, I don't know. Unfortunately I'm not going to make it (long enough) for when these changes get in. You want me to play until I'm 40 years old? I don't think so. ESPN.com

Minnesota Timberwolves, FIBA, Andrei Kirilenko, Russia, Olympics 

And, frankly, it's rather unbelievable, given the six- to eight-week timeframe the team put out when the injury – which didn’t require surgery – occurred. Love returns just over four weeks after the injury, playing for the first time since last season, in which he averaged 26.0 points and 13.3 rebounds His teammates, of course, were elated. Andrei Kirilenko said he figured out Love would play during the pre-game walkthrough. “You feel great when your best player is back,” Kirilenko said. “It’s always needed. I’m kinda worried about him a little bit; it’s a hard injury. But I’m sure he knows what he’s doing.” Minneapolis Star-Tribune

Minnesota Timberwolves, Andrei Kirilenko, Injuries, Kevin Love 

Kirilenko called playing in Utah "a blessing" and said it was "never going to be forgotten." This is the same Kirilenko who offered to walk away from millions of guaranteed dollars the Jazz owed him if they didn't feel he was meeting expectations. I can't recall an American player ever making such an offer. Deseret News

Minnesota Timberwolves, Utah Jazz, Andrei Kirilenko 

Last season, Kirilenko was one of many NBA players who spent time overseas due to the lockout. However, Kirilenko was also one of the rare NBA players to spend the entire season overseas after the lockout was lifted. “When I signed with the Russian team, it was a lockout season and I thought it was a great chance for me to play in Russia in front of Russian fans and my family and friends since I’m still the right age,” said Kirilenko. “I had the chance and I used it.” RealGM

Minnesota Timberwolves, Brooklyn Nets, Andrei Kirilenko 

Kirilenko confirmed that he spoke with Prokhorov briefly before the game, but in a casual manner. “He asked, like, how is everything,” said Kirilenko. “I said everything is great obviously. I just said it’s a great arena because when we get to the arena it looks very flashy.” The Barclays Center was nearly a new home for Kirilenko who was courted by Brooklyn Nets' management heavily before failing to come to terms on a deal. Kirilenko stressed that he has moved on and is solely focused on his current team. “I’m not talking about that (Nets negotiations), said Kirilenko with a smile. “I’m a Minnesota Timberwolf.” RealGM

Minnesota Timberwolves, Brooklyn Nets, Andrei Kirilenko 

Helping erase a 22-point deficit, the former All-Star helped complete a stunning second-half comeback with an all-around performance that was classic Kirilenko, finishing with 16 points on 7-of-11 shooting, 10 rebounds, six assists and four blocks, as the undermanned Timberwolves won, 107-96. “Oh, he definitely was on our list. Oh, yeah,” Nets coach Avery Johnson said before the game. “That guy, with a skill set like that? I’ve always been a fan. He plays hard, he plays defense, he dives on the floor, he blocks shots, he goes back door, he’s improved his shot. ... When he was in Utah, I thought he was awfully good when he was healthy, so there was some discussion.” New York Post

Minnesota Timberwolves, Brooklyn Nets, Avery Johnson, Andrei Kirilenko 

Rod Boone: More leftovers from mornin' shoot: Deron on helping #Nets recruit AK47: "We just didn’t have enough money. I mean, that’s not a secret." Twitter

Brooklyn Nets, Free Agency, Deron Williams, Andrei Kirilenko 

The T-Wolves projected lineup (when everyone is healthy) has Brandon Roy as the only black player along with Nikola Pekovic, Ricky Rubio, Andrei Kirilenko and superstar Kevin Love. "It's just basketball," Roy said. "I never really had to feel like I'm the only black guy out here. I've played on teams that maybe had all black guys and the feeling is just the same when I'm out there on the floor playing with these guys. The only problem we have is in the weight room, arguing over what music we're going to listen to." USA Today

Minnesota Timberwolves, Ricky Rubio, Nikola Pekovic, Andrei Kirilenko, Kevin Love, Brandon Roy 

Kirilenko, who will be in town Wednesday with the Minnesota Timberwolves in an NBA pre-season game against the Detroit Pistons at MTS Centre, spoke to the Winnipeg Sun on Sunday from Minneapolis after a team practice. It will be Kirilenko’s first visit to Winnipeg, but he said he’s aware of the hockey passion here and, although there’s no real time for them to explore the city, he’s looking forward to seeing something new. And he has one small goal, too. “Definitely I want to buy a jersey,” he said, undoubtedly endearing himself to Winnipeg Jets fans. “It’s a very rare opportunity because I’ve never seen the other parts (of Canada) but I like hockey.” Born in Izhevsk, in the western portion of Russia, Kirilenko was curious about the Russian influences on the Winnipeg Jets and then listed off his favourite players. “(Ilya) Kovalchuk, (Alexander) Ovechkin, (Evgeni) Malkin, those are the three I cheer for,” he said. Toronto Sun

Minnesota Timberwolves, Andrei Kirilenko, NHL 

His options, however, are many. Starting small forward Andrei Kirilenko can move to the power forward against some teams, with Dante Cunningham, Lou Amundson and Derrick Williams also available to fill in. If anyone thought it was Williams' spot by default, Adelman shot that down Thursday. "Why would people assume that?" Adelman asked. "He's certainly one of the guys that has to play there, but it's going to be him, Dante, Lou, Andrei may play some there. That's what we're going to have to find out the next three games and the practices, what's the best way to go." ESPN.com

Minnesota Timberwolves, Andrei Kirilenko, Derrick Williams, Dante Cunningham 

During the offseason, Prokhorov pursued Kirilenko, but to no avail. The biggest reason was likely because the Nets could only offer the forward the veteran's minimum, while the Timberwolves were able to pay him $20 million over two years. On Friday, Kirilenko spoke to ESPNNewYork.com about his relationship with Prokhorov, but he wouldn't comment on any of the negotiations. "Those questions I'm not going to answer because I'm a Minnesota Timberwolf right now," he said. "There's no problem with it, but I don't think it's correct when you're talking about the different teams, because when you do, they have a player at your same position. I don't think it's going to be a good idea when you talk about the team because the player who plays your position will think, 'Oh, they wanted to bring Andrei instead.' I don't think it's a good idea." ESPN.com

Minnesota Timberwolves, Brooklyn Nets, Andrei Kirilenko 

Jerry Zgoda: Kirilenko: "We prove Russia can invade the United States, in terms of basketball." Twitter @JerryZgoda

Minnesota Timberwolves, Andrei Kirilenko, Alexey Shved 

According to Taylor, among the new Wolves’ player acquisitions, coach Rick Adelman pushed hard for Andrei Kirilenko and Chase Budinger, and Kahn pushed hard for Brandon Roy: “The coach wanted a guy who could defend more than one position, and David found the best person who fit that description in [Nicholas] Batum. We overpaid to try and get him but we lost him. So then we went after Kirilenko. “The coach says, ‘This is the guy I want. He never talks about scoring, he talks about passing and he talks about defense. I need that player in my system to be successful.’ So that one was clearly the coach. Minnesota Post

Minnesota Timberwolves, Andrei Kirilenko, Brandon Roy 

He'll have a big helping hand when he moves to Minnesota, since he will be joined by NBA veteran Andrey Kirilenko. Shved is thrilled to have such a good friend as a teammate. “He's been playing in the NBA for 10 seasons and he's vastly experienced.He's always the kind of guy you can go to for some advice. He's a great person to have around, and is a good friend of mine, both on and off the court,” Shved said. “I am sure he will help me out when I get there, and I'll try and take his advice on board.” RT

Minnesota Timberwolves, Andrei Kirilenko, Alexey Shved 

Jerry Zgoda: AK declined to answer when asked how hard Nets' Russian owner pursued him to sign, saying it wouldn't be proper Twitter @JerryZgoda

Minnesota Timberwolves, Brooklyn Nets, Free Agency, Andrei Kirilenko 

Russian team leader Andrei Kirilenko plans to play not just in Rio, but also in the 2020 Olympics. BasketNews.lt

Minnesota Timberwolves, Andrei Kirilenko, Russia, Olympics 

Russia’s top basketball player, Andrey Kirilenko, sees supporting Kevin Love and inspiring younger players as his main tasks at the Minnesota Timberwolves. Kirilenko is returning to the NBA this summer after a very successful year with CSKA Moscow and a bronze medal performance with Russia at the London Olympics. “[Minnesota coach, Rick Adelman] said that he was glad that I’m coming,” he told Sport-Express newspaper. “He said he didn’t expect that they’ll be able to drag me out from Russia as I was doing so well with CSKA. We’ve known each other for a long time, since Utah and his Sacramento were fighting in the playoffs.” “According to Adelman, he sees me as a sort of a bear leader – an experienced player, who’ll be an example for the young talent Minnesota has in the squad,” the 31-year-old added. RT

Minnesota Timberwolves, Andrei Kirilenko 

Andrei Kirilenko states that Rick Adelman’s game is very similiar to European basketball, he admired the play of Sacramento Kings back in the days under Adelman with Vlade Divac, Peja Stojakovic and he believes that kind of playing style is ideal for him. 31 years old forward is also excited about his former team mates in Minnesota, he says Kevin Love has become a superstar and Ricky Rubio showed a lot of promise before getting injured last season. When asked about if he feels responsible about Alexey Shved as the Russian player will be a rookie this season with Timberwolves, Andrei Kirilenko said: “I think he has a good chance and potential to be an essential part of this team but I can not go out there and play for him even if I wanted to. In my opinion you need three things to be succesful in the NBA: 1.Confidence of your coach, 2.Performance and 3. Good Luck. You need to join the right team, with the right role, with the right coach and at the right time. For my part I will do my best to help him adapt as quickly as possible and focus on basketball.” TrendBasket

Minnesota Timberwolves, Coaching, Andrei Kirilenko, Rick Adelman, Alexey Shved