Andrei Kirilenko adds a new dimension to the Minnesota Timberwolves – NBA News
Andrei Kirilenko is not a veteran nearing the end of his career, but rather an athletic forward at the prime of his career.
The reigning Euroleague MVP showed that when he scored 35 points in Russia’s Olympic game victory over Great Britain. Kirilenko went 14 of 17 from the field and looked young and energetic on the court, leading his team to a winning campaign opener.
Besides the Russians, there was one more team that were ecstatic with his performance. That team was the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Kirilenko recently signed a two year $20 million deal with the Timberwolves that will see him playing in the NBA next season after a one year break.
AK-47 is no stranger to the NBA, having played 10 seasons with the Utah Jazz. He returned home last season to play with CSKA Moscow in front of friends and family, but a huge salary and the chance of playing in the most competitive league in the world enticed him back to the NBA.
"Last season in CSKA, I feel comfortable, I feel great at home. I feel I should play at the highest level possible. If I'm not going back to NBA, I would probably feel sorry for myself over the next four or five years. I got a call and it was a very, very interesting offer,” said Kirilenko.
Kirilenko will be playing under Coach Rick Adelman and alongside Kevin Love and Ricky Rubio in a new look Timberwolves that is bound to give a tough time to the Western Conference heavyweights.
The Wolves had been interested in Kirilenko all off season, and finally signed him to a contract after clearing up cap space. Kirilenko will be heading to Minnesota along with Russian teammate Alexey Shved, who had 16 points and 13 assists in the game against Great Britain.
Shved is a versatile guard who showed great talent in the game against Britain, and is looking forward to his first season in the NBA. His transition will be made easier with the presence of Kirilenko, as well as other European players such as Rubio and Nikola Pekovic.
"It's very nice for me because my first year he can help me. It's different, not like Europe,” said Shved.
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