PART 1

- We all know that your first season in the NBA came out , in general, to be very successful. Did you face any disappointments?
- The season was hard, especially the first half of it. I had to adapt to the lifestyle in America, to the NBA level. But I earned the coach’s trust and he gave me the playing time on the court. By the end of the season the NBA officials have admitted that I had a good season. The only disappointment was that I have discovered that the NBA is, at the great extent, only well promoted league. There are a few super players, which are the basement on what everything is built, but the majority play not better that mediocre. Before I thought that they are all gods and megastars.
- If CSKA would play in the NBA, how many games could they win?
- In the first season – 1-2, in the second – 5-10, and then they would play as outsiders do here. I think that any player of the Russian NT could play in the NBA. Only two conditions should be fulfilled for that: the coach should trust you and give you the playing time, and you should not be afraid to play against “stars”, never to pay attention what famous players you should to play against. Just to do what you can in every game.
- What do you think: will the fact that Europeans have adapted the NBA rules help Europeans to rich American level of the game?
- Even now European basketball is much closer the NBA level compare to a couple years ago. Even the last Olympics have proved that. Lithuania have lost the game to Americans only by two points. Russia – fifteen points, France in the finals – 10 points. There is no such overwhelming advantage as it was, for example, in Barcelona, when Dream Team have defeated every team with 60 points and not even tried hard to do it. I hope that on this championship Europeans will defeat Americans. And if not, than the on next Olympics it will happen for sure.
- CSKA wanted you to play in the Russian championship playoffs, but you rejected. Are you tired?
- I would mind [to play], but there is a rule in the NBA. According to the contract I have no right to play for the other team.
- How good did you adapt to American life, do you feel nostalgic for Russia?
- We just talked with my wife that we already want to come back to SLC. Although we both like Russia, but there are [SLC] much more calm, safer maybe. And the people’s attitude is different. Americans, without knowing it, in my eyes have broken the stereotype that the true friendship you can find only in Russia, and in America – mere pragmatism. It is not true. The people [there] are very open and friendly. And you start to think that they are your friends. So it comes out that all are friends (laughing). As for entertainment, there are neither night clubs no discos in SLC. But instead we often drive to the mountains. Unfortunately it is prohibited for me to ski, that is why we are just walking. But it is enough for us. Now I came [here] and realized that I have nothing to do here. Before I was busy working in CSKA: training camps, traveling, practices. So, in general, I am tortured doing nothing.
Masha: I want to explain why Andrei feels like that. He uses to live according to a tight schedule. Impossible to compare the NBA schedule to the CSKA one. Every minute of the day is scheduled, every week, every month. That is why it is very difficult for the person who is practicing, playing and sleeping according to the clock to do nothing.
- What is your plans for the summer?
- In the middle of July the summer NBA league is to start and I am going to take part in it. That is why 13-14 of July I will come to SLC, before that time I will stay here. From the beginning of June I will start to work with my personal coach. I will finally come out of emptiness.


Part II

- In 1998 you have become revealed as bright spot in the World Youth Games. In June 14 - 24 the Youth games of CIS [include Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, Kazakhstan and other former USSR countries] and Baltic countries [ Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia] will take start. What would you wish to the participants of the basketball tournament of these games?
- I want to say that the World Youth Games were the best tournament I took part in my life. Even Olympics didn’t fall so deep in my heart. On the Youth Games I was surrounded by the guys of the same age, we had a great fellowship, I was on the huge emotional raise. Actually I think that I am not really mature yet, and indeed, that is why I speak like that. So I wish to all participants of these games that they would have the same impressions as I had. And, of course, the victory for Russia.
- You say you are not mature yet, but recently you have got the child yourself.
- Yes, and I can’t wait until he will grow up to play together with him. By the way Feodor has a birthday today – 3 months.
- To come back to the World Youth Games. The guys which played in the same team with you are all continue well. How about Americans who played in the finals?
- I know that Casey Jacobsen, who was one of the leaders of American team, plays now for Stanford. We still keep in touch. Unfortunately I know nothing about the others.
- Did you talk to Eryomin [Russian NT head coach] about the WC in USA in August? How are you going to prepare for it and when will you join to the National team?
- With Eryomin we will talk in the upcoming month, I just don’t want to destruct him during the playoffs games [Russian league], it is very important for him. As for my plans, I will take 5-7 days rest after Summer league and will join our National Team about 5-7 of August in Novogorsk. I know all the plans of the NT. The only thing, I will be absent during the first training camp in Lithuania [starts from July 12th, it’s a pity this place is only about 70 miles away from me and I was thinking to come over to see some games with Lithuanian teams]
- What do you think will be the result for our National Team in USA? I think you agree that the results of the last EuroChamp we can’t call the success, although we have got the tickets to the WC.
- I agree that we did not really succeed back then. On the following championship I estimate our chances as 50/50. The Russian Team is such a specific team, which can win any team and can lose to any. Literally it depends on everything, starting from the mood of the players and ending with the weather conditions.
- As we know, our team will meet USA in the quarter finals. What is your predictions?
- I played in the NBA and I have no incontestable authority [to be afraid of]. I will play with any team as even. No matter Venezuela or USA.
- Did Americans offer you the citizenship?
- No. The only real thing to make is the Green Card to avoid problems with visa. But my son now is American.
- Why do you wear Minnesota’s jersey and your wife - Lakers?
- Today in the morning we were thinking a lot what to wear. Then we have decided: «we are basketball players finally». We don’t have my jerseys now and decided to wear the jerseys of our favorite players.
Masha: Before we have left [SLC] we wanted to buy Andrei’s jerseys, but it happened that they are all sold out. Now we are expecting the shipment with that jerseys to present them to our friends and relativesðîäñòâåííèêàì è äðóçüÿì ïîäàðèòü.
- Isn’t it forbidden for you to wear the others jerseys?
- If you want to mention such a stupid things in the contract it will make it really big in content. Maybe the NBA management would not like it, but it wouldn’t be reflected at all. They could just laugh at it.
- Did the players wives are present in the games often?
Masha: I don’t remember that anybody would miss the single game. The only thing Utah has a lot of children. Almost every month the new one comes. In the team, always, some of the wives are pregnant. And if somebody’s wife are absent – that means she is giving a birth. But on the 3rd-4th day she will came back to the game. It is interesting that we bring even 5 days old kids with us. I gave birth on 22nd of February and on 28th I already was on the game.
- Will you continue the tradition of Utah?
Andrei: I totally agree with that.
Masha: I hope, Andrei will help me.
- Who is your son looks like?
- My hands, my huge feet. Face – Masha’s.
- So, he will also be basketball player?
- If he will live with us in the USA, then -yes. There are no other options. But I am against the basketball future for him. I know myself how it is hard, and the parents always want more easy life for their children.
- Is SLC the city you would want to live in the future?
- Yes, I would want to spend there at least half of the year, and the rest time to travel between St. Petersburg-Moscow-other cities.

Part III

- What public events did you attend in Moscow already?
- First, I will tell what did I visit in SLC. We have visited Janet Jackson, U2 and Aerosmith concerts. U2 have impressed us greatly. We have bought there T-shirts and then the whole following week we were walking singing there songs. Here we have attended “Maxidrom” [Rock festival] and have visited the “Star Wars” premier [in Russia].
- Do the Russians fans recognize you on the streets?
- They do, but not as often as it was when I played for CSKA. But in America, it comes to be too much in there. Every body in there know the “Utah” players. Wherever you go, everybody recognize you. All say: «You have played good». Even if you did not play good. I reply, for example: «But i was heating the bench yesterday». And they go: «No, we saw how you have played, you were great».
- Do you have contact with NHL [players]?
- Once I have sent the invitation to the game to Pavel Bure, but he did not come [bustard! Bure is not the person to invite as well as Kournikova (forgive me Matt)]. It is possible that he was travelling somewhere else. So that was all. I am not even sure if he knows about me. At least, we are not introduced.
- Are you believer?
- I believe, yet not going to the church. I just try not to make a bad deeds, try to be a good person. God is inside of every person.
- All of us, who love basketball, we all look at the title “NBA star” with honor. What do you think, what should you do to step up to that highest stage?
- I want to be a star. I think, I need to work on the consistency of my shot, I am still missing it. And, maybe, a little on my body shape. Yet now I have no problems with that.
- Can you name a person you were impressed the most of his professionalism during the NBA season?
- John Stockton. He is a pro up the “bones of the brain” [Russian saying, translated literally] and very communicable person. He tries to arrange everything so it would be comfortable for the partners on the team. He is clever both as a player and as a person, with cool sense of humor, and, at the same time, modest. He has 6 children in his family, all are jumping, spinning, nice to watch them.
- Do you have the desire and opportunity to get an education in the U.S.?
- You know, many universities now are offering me to study there. But if I will stay there after the season ending also, you will never see me here. Once I have tried to pass the exams to Moscow University to journalist faculty, but failed. Now I am graduating from St. Petersburg Academy of Physical Training. To be honest, they give some privileges to me since I am very busy. I would want to continue my education when I will finish my sports career.
- Is there the thing as “black and white basketball” as it is, for example, in athletics?
- There are a lot of black players who do not honor the white until the one will block some of “them” or will make the shot over his hands. I went through that.
- Is the NBA order different from what you saw in CSKA?
- Very much. The first evident thing is that nobody can argue with the coach. It is even impossible to imagine that you would argue [fight] with him, as it goes here sometimes [O-Tag, Meech?]. Players are also not fighting among themselves. Even if you have hit somebody occasionally, you ask for excuse and that is all. The management are also trying to make your life easier, to help you to get rid of the life problems. When we have arrived, we had a special person who helped us in everything, starting from big things up to satellite receiver with Russian channels. Then, the hospitality of the team and how they welcomed me. There are the vice champions of the NBA playing, and it is well known that they are not really like rookies. Yet they have welcomed me so warm, so I have started to feel as I play in this team for 3 years already. Before I came there I was told by many: «What are you doing, you will be trampled down in there». Nothing was like that, and I am very thankful to the team, that nobody acted toward me, forgive me for the word, like a piece of @#%$.
- Is there such a side as using the face of Kirilenko in promotional purposes?
- This is NBA industry. They do it every day. A lot of souvenirs with my face on it, my last name, my nick name «AK-47». There are a lot of events where I have to participate. For example, at the opening a new store I give my autographs, talking to people. Or I visit children’s hospitals, presenting the basketballs to kids. In the school I was reading the books to children. And I was thinking: «Goodness [or something like that], my English is far from perfect». But the kids do not care, they do care, that they are close to Utah Jazz player, that they have possibility to take a picture with him, to ask about Russia. By the way it was me who asked them the most difficult question about Russia and not they asked me. I asked them who is the president of Russia. Nobody could answer.
- We all know that you have visited the CSKA game. Did you feel the difference after NBA?
- There is a difference, of course, but I liked the game. The only thing – no defense But the thing I disliked was the environment: arena was dirty. I felt so sorry for my beloved arena.
- One of the coaches said that National Team has a problem with PG, and he sees you at this spot as the most possible option. Are you ready for that?
- I am ready to play at any position for NT. But in general, I maybe not so ready to play PG, yet I have some skills to do that. It is possible to make a PG out of me within one month.
- Do you like gambling in casino?
- Masha and I have visited Las Vegas in the New Year’s holidays, we spread $500 among us and went to gamble. Masha has lost all the money and I came back with $700.
- Will you make a wedding party with Masha?
- We are married officially since the last June. It was in Moscow. But we are not planning the party yet. It would take a lot of money, and we are too greedy (both laughing).