Andrey Kirilenko, a basketball player whose biography is inextricably linked with sports, has been one of the most successful representatives of the Russian school for many years. In his arsenal is a huge number of awards - cups and medals. Moreover, it is he who has been the head of the Basketball Federation (RFB) since 2015. That is why many readers will be interested to know the biography and interesting facts from the life of this young, but already quite famous person.
Childhood
The future famous basketball player Andrey Kirilenko was born on February 18, 1981 in the city of Izhevsk. His father, also a famous athlete in the past, at the time of the birth of his first child, was already the coach of one of the Leningrad football teams. Andrey's mother was engaged in basketball. During her professional career, she performed in fairly well-known clubs: Hammer and Sickle, Spartak, Burevestnik, Skorokhod.
And although the family of the future is alwaysThe athlete lived in Leningrad, in the last months of pregnancy, Andrei's mother went to her relatives in Izhevsk. It was here that her son was born.
Only at the age of four months the child was transported back to his native city on the Neva, where the famous basketball player spent his childhood and youth. Andrei Kirilenko at an early age became interested in football, then swimming and handball. However, he soon decided that he would connect his life only with basketball.
For the first time, the boy began to engage in this sport at the children's school in the Frunzensky district of his native Leningrad, now St. Petersburg. After some time, the guy was assigned to the national team of his native city. It was playing in its composition that basketball player Andrei Kirilenko achieved his first triumph, winning the Russian Cup in one of the youngest age categories.
Professional career
According to his mentors, the boy's talent was noticeable from early childhood. Apparently, therefore, he was soon accepted into the first professional club in his career. They became Spartak. Debuting in January 1997, basketball player Andrei Kirilenko was named the youngest player in the history of the national championship. At that time, the young man was only sixteen years old.
And although in the first season the athlete played only three games on the floor, the very next year he managed to make him the main player of the team. With his excellent game, Andrei Kirilenko managed to attract the attention of the coaches of CSKA Moscow, who in the summer of 1998 luredpromising young player.
Recognized leader of the "soldiers"
The fact that their choice was made correctly, the young basketball player proved already in the first season. He began to score an average of twelve and a half points per game, and later, together with the “soldiers”, he won the Russian championship. The CSKA team in the Euroleague reached the quarterfinals, and it was a very good experience for a novice player. The 1999/2000 season turned out to be a very successful start for Andrei Kirilenko. He, having begun to score thirteen or more points per game, soon turned out to be the recognized leader of the “army men”.
In the same year, the team again became the champion of Russia, and the athlete himself was awarded the title of the best player in the championship. It was then that it became clear that the athlete in the Russian championship would not stay long.
The 2000/2001 season turned out to be the most difficult for CSKA in recent years. The team, left without medals, lost its former enthusiasm. Her only bright spot, especially against the backdrop of general gloom, was still a brilliant performance by a young striker.
Transition to the NBA
As a result, at the end of 2001, the leader of the “army men”, having left his former team, moved to the overseas team “Utah Jazz”. As part of the new club, Russian basketball player Andrei Kirilenko played ten full seasons. During this period, he managed to become one of the most notable players in the starting five and, as a result, turned into one of the highest paid strikers.
It was in the team from Utah that Kirilenko managed to achieve his most significantvictories. However, he failed to become an NBA champion. Despite this, the Russian wagon several times ended up in the symbolic team of the overseas tournament, and once even played in the All-Star Game of this basketball league.
Success streak
In 2007-2012 Andrey Kirilenko, according to the European International Basketball Federation, was recognized as the best striker of the Old World. His personal successes were complemented by successes as a player in the national team. Playing for the Russian national team, this talented striker won the gold of the European championship in Spain (2007), became the bronze medalist of the same championship in Lithuania (2011). In addition, Andrei Kirilenko in 2012, together with the Russian team, reached the third place in the Olympic basketball tournament.
Due to the NBA lockout in 2011, the player had to spend the 2011/2012 season in Russia. Here, as part of his native club CSKA, Kirilenko became the champion of the VTB United League, but later moved overseas again. The next stage in the career of this star striker was the Minnesota Timberwolves, followed by the Brooklyn Nets, where the famous player played until 2014. The end of his career took place in 2015 (CSKA).
Private life
In 2001, at the age of twenty, Andrei married Maria Lopatova, the daughter of a fairly well-known basketball player. She is eight years older than her husband. However, the age differencedoes not affect his family happiness in any way, as Andrei Kirilenko himself says. The basketball player and his wife are raising their fourth children: three sons, Fedor, Stepan and Andrey, as well as a daughter, Alexandra, whom they adopted in 2009.
During the NBA season, spouses with children lived in their home in S alt Lake City, and the rest of the time - in Moscow or France.
Interesting facts
Despite the fact that the star athlete is always very busy, he surprisingly manages to do everything. Basketball player Andrey Kirilenko is warmly praised by everyone who knows him. He created a charitable foundation that operates simultaneously in the United States and in Russia. The purpose of this organization is to help children with disabilities. The Kirilenko Foundation also helps hospitals, sports schools and veterans. Orphanages and nursing homes receive help from him.
Basketball player Andrei Kirilenko, whose height is two hundred and six centimeters, starred in his wife's video in 2002.
Despite rumors, he is not related to the famous tennis player: she is just his namesake. Although in one of the interviews, Maria Kirilenko said that she knew Andrei, and they had an agreement to jokingly call each other brother and sister, however, cousins.
In 2012, the basketball player was a confidant of Mikhail Prokhorov.
