Andrei Kirilenko spoke with beat writers Thursday morning and said all the right things, starting with how he thinks the Nets are legitimate championship contenders and the presence of a Russian owner, Russian executives and a big Russian community in Brooklyn makes him feel "at home." Here's an early sampling
Kirilenko says this is the first time he's starting the season with a feeling of a "legit chance" to win the title.
— Stefan Bondy (@NYDNInterNets) August 1, 2013
Kirilenko says he feels like he is playing at 'home' in Brooklyn given Russian owner, Russians in front office and areas like Brighton Beach
— Josh Newman (@Joshua_Newman) August 1, 2013
AK: "We'll have a pretty veteran team. It's a privilege in the NBA, not a lot team have this kind of depth." AK says he spoke with Kidd.
— Chris Hooker (@chrishooker9) August 1, 2013
AK said he doesn't know if he would have taken this deal 10 yrs ago, but factors (family, personal wealth) have changed a lot since then.
— Alex Raskin (@alexraskinNYC) August 1, 2013
Kirilenko says he has no regrets about opting out of his contract despite having to take pay cut.
— Tim Bontemps (@TimBontemps) August 1, 2013
Kirilenko said he can't control what people/think say about possible conspiracy theory of him taking less $ to sign with the #Nets
— Mike Mazzeo (@MazzESPN) August 1, 2013
Kirilenko also said he's looking forward to playing with Deron Williams again and that once Mikhail Prokhorov bought the Nets, "I had the hopes that one day I will be a Net." Kirilenko played for Prokhorov at CSKA Moscow and Prokhorov tried to buy out his Jazz contract in 2007, after Kirilenko led Russia to the FIBA Eurobasket championship.
- Andrei Kirilenko Introduced, Believes Nets Are His Best Chance For a Title - Josh Newman - SNY Nets
- Andrei Kirilenko, in his words - Stefan Bondy - New York Daily News
- Nets forward Andrei Kirilenko laughs off conspiracy theories about joining Mikhail Prokhorov - Stefan Bondy - New York Daily News
- Nets' tax bill keeps growing - Marc Stein - ESPN
- Kirilenko excited to be reunited with Nets owner Prokhorov - Tim Bontemps - New York Post
- Kirilenko: Nets were my best shot to win - Tim Bontemps - New York Post
- Kirilenko signs with Nets partly because Brooklyn reminds him of home - Tim Bontemps - New York Post
- Andrei Kirilenko says he chose Brooklyn Nets 'to win a title' - AP
- Andrei Kirilenko of Brooklyn Nets says he can't control conspiracy theories - Mike Mazzeo - ESPN New York
- Andrei Kirilenko says pay cut was worth it for shot at title with Nets - Mike Gavin - Newsday
- Andrei Kirilenko talks about signing with the Nets - Rob Abruzzese - Brooklyn Daily Eagle
- Andrei Kirilenko scoffs at Russian conspiracy theory - Kurt Helin - NBC Sports
- Andrei Kirilenko swears there’s nothing shady about his shady-looking Brooklyn Nets deal - Eric Freeman - Yahoo! Sports
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Andrei Kirilenko Says Nothing Suspicious About Deal With Brooklyn Nets - SLAM
- Kirilenko explains his motives, sort of - Michael Rand - Minneapolis Star-Tribune