Free Agent Andrei Kirilenko Returns To Court With Protective Mask For CSKA Moscow

Written by wendell maxey | 13 December 2011

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Update (Tuesday):

Can the Sacramento Kings lure Andrei Kirilenko?

We might be closer to that answer according to Ailene Voisin of the Sacramento Bee, who cites sources that indicate that the CSKA Moscow and free agent forward might be interested in an offer from the Kings who are "deeply in the mix".

There has been no word yet if Kirilenko will play Wednesday night in Euroleague action against Panathinaikos.

Original Post:

Roughly three weeks after former Utah Jazz forward and current NBA free agent Andri Kirilenko suffered a broken nose and injured his left shoulder with CSKA Moscow, the masked man returned.

"I think it was too early to let Kirilenko play, he was not ready yet," said CSKA head coach Jonas Kazlauskas afterwards.

Playing against Khimki in PBL play, Kirilenko went 0-3 in about 7 minutes of action in a 75-65 CSKA loss. Kirilenko practiced with the team on Friday, but was unsure at that time if he would give it a go on Saturday. He ended up playing with a protective mask (after undergoing a nose job the day after he broke his nose against Krasnye Krylia), and looks clear it will take time for Kirilenko to regain his prior form.

Before the injury the 6-foot-9 was averaging 13.8 points and nine rebounds in the Euroleague.

While his agent Marc Fleisher said his client has received interest from 15 NBA teams (one source in Russia confirmed 15/16 teams) on the open market (Jazz paid him $17.8 million last season), there remains the chance Kirilenko will choose to play out this season at home in Russia.

"Before Dec. 9th I will listen to offers from the NBA. I am happy in CSKA and it will be a tough decision. Utah Jazz is in my heart and is on the priority list," he told the Deseret News last week.

"I will look at everything on the table. You know here in Russia my kids are in school, the team is great and I have been playing really well. It will be a difficult decision."

True.

Another truth for Kirilenko: wearing that protective mask is going to take some time to get used to.