How The Jazz Can Build On Post-All Star Success In Offseason

How The Jazz Can Build On Post-All Star Success In Offseason by Richard Lu

After weeks of speculation, a former Utah Jazz great finally appears to be officially calling it quits. Andrei Kirilenko, who played for the Jazz from 2001 to 2011 and was an NBA All-Star in 2004, has decided to end his playing career and move on to the next phase of his life.

David Pick of Basketball Insiders initially reported on Kirilenko’s potential retirement in early June. Shortly thereafter, the former Jazzman told ESPN’s Mike Mazzeo via e-mail that, while retirement was a possibility, no decision had been made.

Now it seems the possibility has become reality.

Andrei Kirilenko retires, likely to run for Russian basketball federation Presidency http://t.co/StHYevvqsU pic.twitter.com/OLM3YOlV8Q — Sportando (@Sportando) June 23, 2015

While Kirilenko’s on-court exploits were incredible and his impact on the league cannot be ignored, one can’t help but wonder what might have been if AK-47 had remained healthy and been put in a better position to succeed. Kyle Wagner of Deadspin put it best following the initial retirement reports–

“Andrei’s best years came at small forward, but he always looked most natural as the deep-lying monster playing the 4, patrolling the rim and running the wheels off of the poor big-man remnants of 90s ball.”

More from Wagner–

“He should have been terrorizing offenses that whole decade, helping from suicidally deep positions or switching onto point guards on pick-and-rolls, then devouring them whole. Instead, the Jazz spent the next half-dozen years cramming Kirilenko into lineups as the small forward, playing with Carlos Boozer and Memo Okur, or later Paul Millsap and Kosta Koufos.”

I couldn’t have said it better myself. Nonetheless, Kirilenko leaves the basketball world as one of the all-time greats to play for the Jazz. The multi-talented forward currently ranks second in team history in blocked shots, fourth in steals, sixth in scoring and fifth in assists.

In addition to announcing his retirement, Kirilenko has made it known that he intends to run for president of the Russian Basketball Federation. According to Kirilenko, in-fighting and other issues have plagued the organization in recent years and led to a decline in on-the-court performance.

The former Jazzman went on to say that he has ideas about how to develop the national program and inject new life into Russian basketball. If his versatility on the hardwood is able to extend to a potential role with the federation, exciting things may be in store.

Congratulations to AK-47 on his retirement. Without question, he left an indelible mark on the Utah Jazz organization and the basketball world as a whole.