December 31st, 2011 
Russ Loede 
Posted in 
Former Jazz forward Andrei Kirilenko, Russia’s best basketball player, is staying with CSKA Moscow after deciding not to exercise the contract option which allowed him to sign with an NBA club as soon as the lockout finished.
“During this month I considered different options, weighting out all pros and cons, and I came to the conclusion that I should finish this season with CSKA,” Kirilenko told CSKA’s official website.
“We’ve developed great team chemistry, the real team in the first part of the season. It would be inappropriate to stop halfway. It would be unfair toward my teammates and, more importantly, toward fans. I know how many people count on me.”
Last season, the 30-year old Kirilenko appeared in 64 games (62 starts) for Utah, playing 31.2 minutes per night.
The 6-foot-9, 235-pound versatile forward averaged 11.7 points, 5.1 rebounds (1.6 offensive), 3.0 assists, 1.3 steals, and 1.2 blocks per game.
Kirilenko was selected 24th overall by the Jazz in the 1999 NBA Draft.
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