“The three best basketball players in the world are Jokic, Antetokounmpo and Doncic.” Interview with Andrei Kirilenko

42 years old Andrei Kirilenko – a legend of our basketball. He spent 12 seasons in the NBA, playing for the Utah Jazz, Minnesota Timberwolves and Brooklyn Nets. He was a versatile player, capable of playing both light and power forward positions.

It must be said that in terms of blocked shots, Kirilenko is among the forty best leaders in the entire history of the NBA, while among Europeans he is second only to Vlade Divac. Additionally, Andrei became the 15th player in NBA history to record 1,000 steals, 1,000 blocked shots, and 2,000 assists. And it’s great!

We met in Perm at the forum “Russia is a sports power”, where the star basketball player represented the RFB. And we spoke immediately.

From this interview with Andrey Kirilenko, you will learn:

“Adapted basketball is extremely important to us”

— From a basketball perspective, what was the most important thing said at the “Russia is a Sports Power” forum?

— We once again presented our “quiet!” social project. basketball”. As a rule, the big federations do not do this. But I think it is simply necessary. After all, the big classical federations have the necessary resources to help adapted basketball. The Paralympic Committee Russian or the Adapted Basketball Federation do not always have opportunities.

But the RBF manages to find funds and we can also integrate these competitions into big stages, like the Russian 3×3 basketball championship. They knit very well. On the one hand, you save a little, but on the other, your audience increases. People who are not used to it now see adapted sports. And to be honest, they’re freaking out: it’s something new, something different. And the sports component and intensity are no worse.

You usually watch guys or girls in a 3×3 format. But suddenly some guys move around in wheelchairs and start playing basketball. And your reaction: “Wow!

— If we talk about 3×3 basketball, I worked at the final of the Tokyo Olympics, where the Russian men’s and women’s teams played. This direction needs to be developed!

– Without a doubt! Grassroots basketball and this story, when you can go to the Olympics from the court, plus this adaptive basketball, it’s extremely important to us. In addition, our federation at the forum signed a significant contract with a large bookmaker, which contributes to the development of national teams and participates in the Russian Championship. With the help of such a partner, we can implement even more of our projects.

“My son fell in love with Minnesota hockey.”

—How come your son started playing hockey and not basketball? SKA-Junior striker Stepan Kirilenko (185 cm/81 kg), 16 years old, even took your number “47”.

— I have rarely crossed paths with hockey. So, I have been friends with Ilya Kovalchuk since American times, when we met at the All-Star Game in Atlanta. We were young then and just beginning our journey to the NBA and NHL.

And in 2012, I played for the Minnesota Timberwolves, and there is a fragment of my biography. It was then that my second son got acquainted with hockey and received the first basics of this sport. And I have carried the love of hockey in my heart until these days. I think Stepan has already matured enough to start his professional career.

— Didn’t you say to him: “Son, there’s an orange ball”?

— He loves basketball anyway. And big enough for a hockey player. Does not play basketball professionally, only in his free time. But he mainly devotes himself to hockey training.

— Ilya Kovalchuk’s son has started playing football, he is already recruited into the Russian youth team.

“I also know his second son, who also played hockey, but went to basketball. Our children are not following in their fathers’ footsteps at all. But in this regard, I am not the right parent. I think you should encourage a child to play sports. But there is no need to command: “Go ahead and play.”

It’s not my desire, but his, to play hockey. If at some point he decides to hang up his skates and devote himself to something else, I will be the first to congratulate myself. I know a huge number of parents who stand like Cerberus over their children, so that they do what adults like: “You are the next Ovechkin, Kokorin, Dzyuba, Smolov.

But the child himself should benefit from it. And then the result will be better. If you love the game, if you want to achieve something in it and move towards your goal, then you will succeed. And not because your father told you to.

“Vembanyama and Doncic are “unicorns”

— Head coach of the Russian national football team Valery Karpin said: “If you have the opportunity to participate in the European Championships, then go.” How does this apply to basketball? A Russian NBA star will spark interest in basketball across the country.

— The best prospect today is Yegor Demin, 17, who now plays for Real Madrid. Undoubtedly, when a Russian athlete participates in a high-level championship and plays a leading role, this draws attention to our sport.

But if we look at our entire history, how many Russian athletes can you name me who are famous all over the world? Only four come to mind that many people know: Alexander Ovechkin, Maria Sharapova, Khabib… Name the fourth yourself.

In other words, we don’t have many of these athletes. And you’re trying to tell me: it would be nice if we had our own Michael Phelps in swimming… Of course, good! But there are very, very few examples of this type.

I believe that a basketball player must play and evolve in a logical way. If, logically, it is better for him to play for a Russian club in order to get decent development time, he should do so. If he has already reached his ceiling, then yes, you can move on to the next step. But that doesn’t mean you have to go somewhere like that. You need to measure the steps you take in your career. Maybe choose a good championship before reaching the highest level. You must logically improve your class, not abandon everything and stick to your suitcases.

— We’re not talking about America, they have their own basketball world. But how did Slovenia produce its Luka Doncic and France its Victor Vembanyama?

— You don’t give examples, but exceptions. This is not an indication of a mega-selection and targeted system. There was no one in Slovenia – and suddenly there was one. It is simply a unique thing that appears once in a generation. Like Vembanyama with a height of 222 cm and shows amazing things on the ground. The same Serbian Nikola Jokic is simply amazing, or the Greek Giannis Antetokounmpo. There have never been any Greek basketball players before who could destroy the NBA like this.

That is, once every ten years a “unicorn” appears in some countries, as it is called in North America (“unicorn”). Just like Doncic. And if we talk about the structure and consistency of the players, then I see a certain level of preparation in Spain. This doesn’t mean everything is fine with them – they have their own problems. But systematic work is being carried out there, the renewal of generations is underway, while the national team plays in approximately the same vein.

No other team can boast of such stability – for example, Serbia, which is experiencing failures. And if we talk about the development of basketball, there must be a structure where, year after year, you invest the maximum in the sport, raise a certain level, waiting for your “unicorns” that randomly appear around the world .

Today in Russia there is a good age – guys born in 2013-2014. They could potentially go far. Before that, 2009 had been a good year.

— Do they lose a lot by not participating in international competitions now?

“Team sports are the ones that suffer the most from suspensions.” I believe that without international experience we will not be able to grow as a sport. But despite all the downsides, I think this is a unique time. We finally started looking at ourselves, looking at our own national championship.

And I always say, “Guys, a strong national championship is the key to the next step. » Discover all the best team sports leagues. First there is a strong championship, from which international matches are organized and teams are formed.

We have to move on. Each region must have its own point of attraction, a successful basketball team. People will come with their own people and fill the stands. And that’s where the love for the Euroleague and the national team comes from.

“The NBA club will come to Russia as soon as possible”

— Timofey Mozgov, 37, announced his retirement. What memory do you have of this center forward? Few Russians have received an NBA championship ring.

– When I remember Tim, my first association is that he is an incredibly hard worker. All he managed was to tear it out with his teeth, his work and his sweat. A man who constantly worked in the gym, did not pay attention to various obstacles, chewed this road… And as a result, he found himself in a team that managed to extract the best qualities from him. He became an important part of Cleveland’s victory, a reliable center who anchored the Ohio team’s defense. I’m very happy for him, we communicate constantly. Mozgov – a big greeting!

— Is there a chance that an NBA club will come to Russia after the international situation normalizes?

— Let’s remember how the Los Angeles Clippers arrived in Russia in 2006. Probably, today it is not worth dreaming about it, and the political context is very pressing. And when relations between Russia and the United States return to normal, I am sure we will see NBA clubs here. Why not? This is a completely feasible scenario. Additionally, the NBA as a league is very global and enjoys playing in various locations, attracting attention and new audiences, sponsors and partners. I am sure that at the first opportunity this will definitely be on the agenda.

— Finally, name the three best basketball players in the world in the 2022/23 season.

— Nikola Jokic (Serbia), Giannis Antetokounmpo (Greece), Luka Doncic (Slovenia). These are the three best players in the NBA today in my opinion. These are the most observable and the most effective. And if we are talking about some kind of status, then of course LeBron James (USA). He is attractive even at 38 years old.