After 10 years at Utah Jazz, the Russian basketball star Andrei Kirilenko retuns to Russia to play for CSKA Moscow basketball team where he played in 1998-2001. Andrei's career started in Spartak team in St. Petersburg. After playing for CSKA for 3 years he was contracted to play for Utah Jazz where his contract ended this summer.

      The terms of the contract with CSKA remain undisclosed, however it is known that at Utah Jazz Kirilenko's salary was $18mln last season. The contract leaves Kirilenko with the option to return to Utah Jazz at any time in the next 3 years. The player himself spoke very positively about the transfer, noting that CSKA Moscow currently has a great coach and a team of strong players: "It is great to do hard work, and it is always more interesting to play under pressure of responsibility. I am sure we can solve the most difficult tasks".

      Utah Jazz team was founded in 1975. For a period of time the team's name was New Orleans Jazz.

      Andrei Kirilenko (height 2m 6cm; 6'9") was born in Izhevsk in Russia on 18 February 1981 and later moved to St. Petersburg. At Utah Jazz he played under #47 as a forward. He is also a member of the Russian National Basketball Team. He plans to donate all his earnings from a 3-year contract with CSKA Moscow to his charity "Kirilenko for Children" that helps sport schools, children hospitals, retired sportsmen and disabled basketball players.

      Kirilenko's career highlights:

      
• 2-time Russian champion (with CSKA, 1998/99 and 1999/2000 seasons);

      
• the youngest player in the Russian super-league (at the age of 15);

      
• the best player of Adidas abc All-Star Camp-1997 for Russia's strongest players of 1980 and 1981 years of birth;

      
• silver medal at 1997 Junior European Championship, MVP of the tournament;

      
• MVP of the 1999 Junior European Championship;

      
• the youngest player at the European Star Matches (18 yrs 10 months 10 days);

      
• player at the Final of the Four of the Euroleague FIBA-2000/1;

      
• best European player, season 2000/1, according to Basket News;

      
• member of the symbolic Fiver at the European championship 2003, best results in block-shots (2,2 per game) and intercepts (3,1 per game);

      
• 2007 European champion, MVP of the tournament;

      
• the youngest European player of the NBA, chosen by draft (18 yrs 4 months 12 days);

      
• member of the Rocky Mountain Revue - 2001.

      

Source: RIA Sport. Image courtesy: arbetov.com (via Basketball.ru).