Popularly known as AK-47, Andrei Kirilenko was just 15 when he started playing in the Russian Basketball Super League. Following this, he went on to play in the NBA and quickly became famous for his defensive game. He was one of the most legendary players to have stepped into the league as well as Utah Jazz. Interestingly, Kirilenko was the first-ever Russian player to be selected in the first round of the NBA Draft. But how did he come to be famously known as AK-47?

Back in the 2001 NBA Draft, the Utah Jazz were in need of a player just like Kirilenko. As soon as he joined the league, the player made history. Another player who was part of the franchise was John Amaechi. However, the issue was that Amaechi took Kirilenko’s preferred jersey number, 13.

The Russian athlete now needed a new number. That was when his teammate Quincy Lewis suggested that he take jersey number 47 and even dubbed him AK-47.

“When I first came to Utah and played in the Summer League, I played with number 13. My mom played with 13, and for the majority of my career, I was picking this number… We picked John Amaechi, a veteran in the league. When you have a veteran join the team, they get priority. He picked 13, I was like ‘Uh oh, which number am I supposed to pick?’” he said once on the Knuckleheads podcast.

Another thing that fit quite well with the nickname was the origin of the gun AK-47, which was also created in Russia. “At that time, we had Quincy Lewis. He’s the head of the alumni program in Utah right now. Because he was young and I was young, we were hanging out. He said, Andrei Kirilenko, AK that’s your initials. AK-47 is the most famous machine gun. You have to pick 47,” he added.

“I was like ‘Yeah, sure, what else am I supposed to pick? So I picked 47, and since then it’s become like a brand…,” Amaechi said. Back in 2004, the Russian basketball star became an All-Star for the first and only time in his NBA career. He was selected to the team as the twenty-fourth overall pick in the NBA Draft. 

The 4× Russian Player of the Year was also instrumental in leading the Utah Jazz to victory in the Western Conference. However, the Jazz couldn’t win the game against the NBA champions.

Andrei Kirilenko’s legendary career 

After John Stockton and Karl Malone left the Utah Jazz, the Russian player was able to bring in new talent and boost the team’s energy. He joined the other players and became a crucial part of the team. He joined Carlos Boozer, Mehmet Okur, and Deron Williams, forming a fabulous four to lead the team. However, after the playoffs, his role began diminishing in the Utah Jazz. 

Kirilenko made it into the NBA All-Rookie First Team and was also named to the NBA All-Defensive Team three times. In the 2000 Summer Olympics, the Russian player joined the Russian national team and in the 2007 tournament, he had an incredible run, leading his team to win the gold medal and earning the MVP (Most Valuable Player) title for his outstanding performance.

He was named FIBA Europe Men’s Player of the Year twice and won a Euroscar Player of the Year award in 2012. He was appointed President of the Russian Basketball Federation in 2015. Certainly, AK-47 will forever be the most legendary player for the Utah Jazz and its fans and not to mention, his nickname as well.