Money Not an Issue as Kirilenko Wants to Remain with Jazz

Andrei Kirilenko will be paid 487 million bills this season.

OK, so that's in rubles from his native Russia. In U.S. currency, it's $16.452 million.

Whatever source you're reading, from a Russian newspaper to an American internet site, many stories about Kirilenko mention his contract. He's often dubbed the NBA's most overpaid player.

And, yes, it can be burden on the Utah Jazz forward.

"It definitely puts more pressure on you, but what can you do about it?'' Kirilenko, who will make $17.823 million next season to conclude a six-year, $86 million contract, said in an interview with FanHouse. "Nobody can say I'm not playing 100 percent. I give 100 percent and I'm hustling so the world is not perfect.''

Kirilenko signed a maximum extension off his rookie contract on Oct. 29, 2004, back when he was a much more focal player for the Jazz. The past half decade has seen Kirilenko have squabbles with Utah coach Jerry Sloan about his role, and in September 2007 he was quoted in the Russian newspaper Sport Express about wanting to give up the then $63 million remaining on his contract to play in Europe.

But 2 ½ years later Kirilenko is more at peace with himself. He now says he actually wants to remain with the Jazz when he becomes a free agent in the summer of 2011.

"Definitely the Jazz is going to be my priority,'' Kirilenko said. "From the city standpoint to the team standpoint, because you get used to being here. It's very hard to change when you're getting older. So definitely the Jazz is going to be my priority.''

Kirilenko, though, knows plenty could change between now and the summer of 2010. Jazz officials often have looked to trade Kirilenko. While there's little possibility of moving his big contract by the Feb. 18 trade deadline, his expiring deal could be attractive after this season.

Kirilenko, 28, said he would have to factor in who might be coaching the Jazz in 2011-12, with Sloan not committed beyond next season. And, of course, Kirilenko would have to take a massive pay cut to remain in Utah.

"I don't think the money is going to be an issue,'' Kirilenko said. "I understand that I look at the world realistically. I understand my value is going to be a little lower than it is right now. I'm not worried about that. Money has never been an issue. It's good to have a good contract and money. But my priority is basketball.''

Early in his career, the 6-foot-9 Kirilenko was a basketball player like none other. He played in the NBA All-Star Game in 2004 and his ability to fill up a box score gave the term "high five'' a new definition, meaning he had five or more points, rebounds, assists, blocks and steals in a game.

But Kirilenko, who averaged 16.5 points, 8.1 rebounds and 2.76 blocks in 2003-04 and led the NBA in blocks with a 3.32 average in 2004-05, soon found his role as a Jazz star deep-sixed.

Forward Carlos Boozer and center Mehmet Okur both had signed as free agents in the summer of 2004. While Boozer had injuries in his first two seasons, he emerged by 2006-07 to be Utah's most important frontline player. And the Jazz had drafted guard Deron Williams in 2005, who soon became another player on the team more important than Kirilenko.

In 2006-07, it all came crashing down for the Russian. He averaged 8.3 points in 29.3 minutes, more than eight per game fewer than he had played the previous season.

"When I signed the contact for the Jazz, I was feeling at the time I was a key player. Things change. ... After we got Deron and Booz, they're really the guys who are the forces on our team."
- Andrei Kirilenko "When I signed the contact for the Jazz, I was feeling at the time I was a key player,'' Kirilenko said. "Things change. ... After we got Deron and Booz, they're really the guys who are the forces on our team. I'm not playing with the ball as much as I was four or five years ago. I kind of had a tough time a few years ago converting myself. ... I didn't understand how to deal with it.''

He sure didn't. Kirilenko had squabbles with Sloan and said in the interview with the Russian newspaper he had "been going on the court and acting like a robot.''

But Kirilenko said he has learned over the years to concentrate on winning, putting aside much of his past negativity. While this season's statistics of 10.9 points and 4.5 rebounds over 28.6 minutes don't blow anyone away, he's learned to take pride in other things.

"I have learned to adjust to the system,'' Kirilenko said. "I have my role and I'm concentrating on playing (opposing top scorers) such as LeBron (James of Cleveland last Thursday) and Carmelo (Anthony of Denver on Sunday). It's pretty interesting. ... I'm playing with the Jazz so I want to help them and make it work.''

Still, Kirilenko's contract hangs over the Jazz. With the team wanting to cut down on a sizable luxury-tax bill, promising rookie point guard Eric Maynor was dispatched in a move last month that will save Utah more than $9 million.

"It's always been like that,'' Okur said about talk of Kirilenko and his contract. "That's basketball people talk. But he's quiet. He's just doing his job out there, and trying to do the best for us. He has a great attitude. Forget what has happened the last couple of years. He's playing hard.''

Kirilenko is tied with Lakers star forward Pau Gasol as being the NBA's 11th highest-paid player this season. Of the top 10, all have played in multiple All-Star Games and are current or fading stars.

Competition with Kirilenko for this season's most overpaid player comes from Miami's Jermaine O'Neal, No. 2 at $23.016 million who has fallen off rapidly in recent years, Houston's Tracy McGrady, No. 3 at $22.483 million who has had injury problems, Cleveland's Shaquille O'Neal, No. 5 at $21 million who also has fallen off, and Milwaukee's injured Michael Redd, No. 10 at $17.04 million and out for the season due to a knee injury.

McGrady and the two O'Neals both have expiring deals. So Redd, who will make $18.3 million with his health possibly in doubt, and Kirilenko might be left to fight it out next season for unofficial title of worst NBA contract.

"You take the top 30 contracts in the NBA and probably 70 percent of the GMs would think 70 percent of the contracts are bad contracts,'' Nuggets coach George Karl said when asked about Kirilenko's deal. "I don't think that's fair to him. I think he's still a winning player. I think he's part of kind of the culture of Utah and I wouldn't doubt that he has a great second half (of the season).''

Kirilenko sure hopes that will be the case. But it will be a while before he can shake all the scrutiny about his contract.

"A lot of people kind of judge me,'' Kirilenko said. "You can't do anything when you sign a contract and you got it. ... It is what it is for the moment.''

By 2011-12, he might be judged different even if he's still playing for the Jazz. That's because Kirilenko would be making a lot less in dollars and in rubles.

Chris Tomasson can be reached at tomasson@fanhouse.com and on Twitter @christomasson