HoopsHype.com Rumors

Brad Rock: Kirilenko still owns his house in SLC, says he has "many friends" still in Utah. Marsha was with him after game. They left w/ Harprings. Twitter @therockmonster

Minnesota Timberwolves, Utah Jazz, Andrei Kirilenko 

Most people remember the day Kirilenko wept in confusion over his role in Jerry Sloan's offense, and the time his wife said she'd allow A.K. a free extramarital dalliance per year — an offer he now dismisses as an inside joke. He left the Jazz to play in Russia during the lockout of 2011. He could have returned to the NBA once the lockout ended, but instead stayed with his CSKA Moscow team, saying fans and teammates were counting on him. Deseret News

Minnesota Timberwolves, Utah Jazz, Andrei Kirilenko 

His appearance at ESA wasn't on the level of a Karl Malone night. But that doesn't mean he isn't still a story. Media flocked to the shoot-around on Wednesday morning, more showing up for pregame questions. Same questions, same answers — except maybe this one: "Do you miss the smell of brine shrimp?" "Well, everything but it," he said. Later he did postgame interviews, walked to the team family lounge, spoke with ex-teammate Matt Harpring, then unnecessarily paused for more interviews on his way out. Bad guys don't usually do such things. Deseret News

Minnesota Timberwolves, Utah Jazz, Andrei Kirilenko 

Jody Genessy: AK: "If the people remember you as a good personality, I think it goes a long way rather than just being a good player but being a jackass." Twitter @DJJazzyJody

Minnesota Timberwolves, Utah Jazz, Andrei Kirilenko 

Ross Siler: Jazz could've swapped Kirilenko (with four years left on deal) for Shawn Marion (with two years left) but LHM vetoed the deal. Twitter @rosssiler

Dallas Mavericks, Utah Jazz, Shawn Marion, Andrei Kirilenko 

Jody Genessy: Jazz CEO Greg Miller on tonight's Jazz game: "I invite you to join me with warm applause in thanking Andrei for the yrs of play he gave us." Twitter @DJJazzyJody

Minnesota Timberwolves, Utah Jazz, Andrei Kirilenko, Greg Miller 

Jody Genessy: Millsap joked that he doesn't know if Kirilenko will get the Jimmer treatment (cheers) or the D-Will treatment (boos) Wednesday in Utah. Twitter @DJJazzyJody

Minnesota Timberwolves, Brooklyn Nets, Utah Jazz, Deron Williams, Andrei Kirilenko, Paul Millsap 

Alexander Krasnenkov, president of Russian Federation, said that Andrei Kirilenko will decide after the NBAAll-Star Game whether to join or not the Russian National Team for Eurobasket in Slovenia. Sportando

Minnesota Timberwolves, Andrei Kirilenko, Russia, Slovenia, Eurobasket 

Here’s my translation of part of Andrei Kirilenko’s recent interview with Pavel Osipov of Sport-Express. - Are the games against LeBron special for you?- They are different. After all, it doesn’t happen every day that you get to face the best basketball player in the world. So each of these games… No, it is not a challenge, but a mini-duel, without any doubt. It is always interesting for me to guard LeBron, because he is a really smart player, who knows not only how to score, but also how to do everything else: rebound, pass, steal the ball. There, he has blocked four of our shots in this game. Rush'n Hoops

Miami Heat, Minnesota Timberwolves, LeBron James, Andrei Kirilenko 

Pavel Osipov of Sport-Express has interviewed Andrei Kirilenko on the phone after the game against Cavaliers, during which Kirilenko had eight points, seven rebounds, six assists, four steals and three blocks. Here’s my translation: - Does the back bother you anymore? - Everything’s all right. I played today, after all, so this means my back is alright. But physically it was hard, yes. When you get out of game rhythm for a week and a half, it takes its toll. - So you got a bit out of shape over this time? - It’s not exactly like that. I just need to get into game rhythm once again. Today I just got winded after the first few minutes. Though after that I went back to normal. Rush'n Hoops

Minnesota Timberwolves, Andrei Kirilenko 

What do Timberwolves lack right now? Or maybe someone? Ricky Rubio? - Of course things will get easier when he returns. Ricky can keep the high tempo of the game. Right now Minnesota is playing well, but we miss the quick passes which shred the defense. Sometimes we have this problem: we get into set offense, make the first pass – to that same Kevin, for example, and then just start waiting. But when you have the ball, you need to pass it to each other quickly, make the opponents move, creating more opportunities for the shots. Rubio will help us greatly in this area. His playing style is similar to Shved‘s, but he’s more pass-oriented. Though Alexey can make a timely pass too. - Rubio is already practicing with the team. When do you expect his comeback? - As I heard, it should happen no earlier than mid-December. I think in about seven or ten days. Ricky is already in good playing shape. But then it takes some extra time for him to get comfortable playing with new teammates. Rush'n Hoops

Minnesota Timberwolves, Ricky Rubio, Andrei Kirilenko, Injuries 

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