Andrei Kirilenko is a "temperamental diva?" That's what Adrian Wojnarowski calls him in his latest column after AK didn't play for the Russian team in the FIBAs.
Russian coach David Blatt throws AK under the bus as well for not carrying the torch "to the max." As Ross Siler pointed out, Andrei was injured this past season. That's the biggest reason he hasn't played.
I don't know why he uses AK as his poster boy for spoiled NBA athletes that didn't play in this year's tourney. Maybe it's because Blatt was the only coach that he could get to speak out against one of his star players? That's easy to do when you're stepping down as coach after the tourney and won't have to try to get AK on board next time.
AK would be the last player on the Jazz, and probably in the league that I would consider a diva. He's taken his role, no matter how many times that has changed over the past 6 seasons, and did what was needed for the team Yes, there was the trade demand in 2007 but that was from frustration boiling over from not knowing exactly what his role was with the team. Once things were talked out, everything was fine.
As much as I would want to see Deron, AK, Memo, and everyone else play until they couldn't stand, they're making a huge commitment playing for Team USA or their respective countries. If it's not the Olympics or FIBAs, it qualifying tournaments. That takes up a huge chunk of their valuable free time. There has to be some downtime somewhere and the FIBAs are going to take the hit.
The plus side from all of this is that we get to see the "second team" for the USA. And as Siler pointed out, there's going to be a lot more basketball for AK to play in.
Big Al has wasted no time getting to work in Utah. He's also gotten to work with charity work in Salt Lake. He visited Palmer Court yesterday, a housing project that helps "individuals and families move out of homelessness and attain affordable and appropriate long term housing."
He bought everyone school supplies, including backpacks, and made sure everyone got an autographs and pictures.
Al also stated that he hopes that the Jazz are his final team.
Is there anything more that he can do to endear himself to the fan base off the court? Does anyone have any little puppies that need to be rescued?
Matt Moore weighs in on whether Al Jefferson will be an improvement over Boozer,
The Jazz offense might wind up with better numbers than it had with Boozer. Defensively will be the issue, and head coach Jerry Sloan will need to work with Jefferson on where he needs to be and applying pressure.
He goes into a lot more detail, breaking down their offensive and defensive abilities, so make sure to click through.
I for one think that the Jazz system has a lot to do with both of them. Boozer definitely has the skills and they were amplified with the Jazz. I have big hopes for Al coming from the system he was in in Minnesota.
In case you're not on twitter yet, make sure at least you bookmark http://twitter.com/tribjazz. Brian T. Smith took a bit to get the tribjazz tweets going but is now tweeting full speed.
Friday open poll, Which current Jazz player would sport the John Stockton shorts the best?