AK-47 — the most versatile defensive player of the 2000s, capable of statistics almost no one else produced.
Andrei Grigoryevich Kirilenko was born in Izhevsk, Russia in 1981. Utah Jazz selected him 24th overall in the 1999 NBA Draft and he joined the team in 2001. His 14-season career produced 12.6 points, 6.1 rebounds, 3.4 assists and 2.5 blocks per game — the blocks average making him one of the most prolific shot-blockers for a small forward in NBA history. He was selected to one All-Star game and named All-NBA Defensive Second Team three times. He won the EuroBasket championship with Russia in 2007. His nickname AK-47 referred both to his initials, his jersey number and the iconic Soviet weapon — a combination that Russian fans and American commentators embraced. In the 2004-05 season he produced a statistical impossibility that no other player achieved — 1,000 points, 500 rebounds, 200 assists, 150 blocks and 100 steals in the same season. His defensive versatility — he could guard positions 1 through 5 effectively — made him the prototype for the positionless defender that analytics-driven teams later specifically sought. He was arguably the most statistically unique player of the 2000s decade.
Elite shot-blocking forward and versatile defender
How They Played
Versatile defender with exceptional shot-blocking ability, could play multiple positions
Lasting Impact
One of the most versatile defenders in NBA history, known for ability to guard multiple positions
All-Star 1x
Career Honours
- All-Star 1x
- All-NBA Defensive Second Team 3x
- EuroBasket Gold (Russia 2007)