Andrei Kirilenko's move to Russia - A major setback for NBA
Instead of sitting idle and expecting that two sides which are on the opposite poles to agree to a deal, Andrei Kirilenko or Ak-47, the only prominent Russian in NBA has preferred to move to his homeland.
Kirilenko is a free agent and has showed his intent to come back to NBA and represent the same team that he has been embodying for a decade now- Utah Jazz, once the labour dispute ends.
Jazz was the team that drafted him back in 1999 from the same team that Andrea Kirilenko has decided to represent until the lockout- CSKA Moscow.
It’s a 3 year contract and provides him leverage to go back to NBA whenever it resumes. Which the head coach of CSKA, Jonas Kazlauskas doesn’t seem to like much. Commenting on Kirilenko’s inclusion to CSKA, Jonas said
“My opinion is, you should not take the NBA player during the lockout." “If they can leave you, you don’t know what to expect, and only the weak teams can take this kind of step. At the same time, every rule has its exception,
and Kirilenko is the exception.”
However, Kirilenko is in high spirits to be back home with the same team he started his basket ball career with. "I am glad to be back with the team where I spent my years of adolescence," Kirilenko said in news release on the
CSKA website. "It’s a pleasure to have a chance to play for Russian fans, my friends and relatives."
This bargain is a big deal for Russia as Kirilenko is the best Russian player to have represented NBA and can easily become the cause for promotion of basketball in Russia. Watching him play, Russian Youngsters will get a lot of
motivation and who knows in coming years we see another Russian in NBA even better equipped than Kirilenko.
On the other hand, this move is not a good omen for NBA. After 1998-1999 season, this is the first time, complete season would not be probably played as preseason games have already been cancelled and training camps have been delayed.
The signing of Kirilenko to CSKA is a signal from players to NBA fans to give up hope of witnessing any action this year. Process of players moving overseas has already started and will only gain pace with time.
What if some of the players decide to stay in their respective countries and never come back to NBA? This is the deadliest possible consequence of lockout that will hit NBA much harder than its expectations.
NBA is adored by millions around the globe. Cancellation of season will hurt all the fans and will also lead to birth of significant animosity in the hearts of NBA fanatics for NBA owners. And because of that NBA might lose some
of its fan base.
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