Profile of Russian Star Volume 1: Андрей Кириленко

Andrei Kirilenko was born in Ishevsk, but grew up in Saint Petersburg during Soviet era. At tender age of 15, Kirilenko became youngest player to ever compete in Russian Superleague (Баскетбольная Суперлига). In 1999, at age of 18, Kirilenko became youngest European player ever selected in NBA draft when he was picked by Utah Jazz. He continued play in Russia for two more years before making transition to NBA.

In first season, Kirilenko was named to All- Rookie first team. He play good defense and he play good offense. This shown as he regularly have good all-around games, such as when he posted 14 Points, 8 Rebounds, 9 Assists, 6 Steals, and 7 Blocks in one game on January 3rd of the 05-06 season. This is possibly closest anyone ever come to recording quintuple-double (10 of all 5 stats), at least since blocks and steals started being recorded.

And he look like Ivan Drago (the guy from Rocky IV for the uninformed).