Andrei Kirilenko recently joined the ‘Knuckleheads Podcast’ to discuss his impressive career. Over 13 years in the NBA, the versatile forward was often underappreciated, even though he made the All-Star team in 2004 and led the league in blocks one year later.
What was also memorable about the Russian was his catchy nickname—AK-47—created by combining his initials with his jersey number. During his conversation with podcast hosts Quentin Richardson and Darius Miles, Kirilenko shared the story behind choosing it, going back to his rookie days with the Utah Jazz .
"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," recounted Kirilenko while appearing on the ‘Knuckleheads Podcast.’
From 'AK-13' to AK-47'
At just 19 years old, 'AK-47' entered the NBA, joining the Jazz and making his debut in the summer league while wearing a jersey with the number 13. The 1999 draft pick had hoped to keep this number, as his mom had worn it during her playing days. However, the then-Utah rookie soon learned that teammate John Amaechi already had dibs on it. As Andrei recalled, Amaechi was a vet at the time, which gave him "priority" in number selection. Not wanting to make a fuss, the young 6'9" player followed his teammate Lewis's advice.
Since then, the nickname has "become like a brand," Kirilenko , now in his mid-40s, remarked. That certainly rings true, as Andrei stands as one of the most famous athletes from his home country, Russia. Interestingly, however, he might not even be the most notable person from his hometown. The creator of the gun known as the ‘AK-47’ hailed from the same city and might hold that distinction.
Unsurprisingly, Kirilenko was aware of this during his time as a Jazz rookie, and it influenced his decision, as he responded to Lewis, “Yeah, sure, what else am I supposed to pick?” before agreeing to wear number 47.
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Utah's fabulous four
While Lewis deserves credit for that nickname, other teammates from Kirilenko's time with the Jazz also significantly influenced the European basketball legend. Back then, ‘AK-47’ had some of his best days alongside Carlos Boozer, Mehmet Okur, and Deron Williams. This quartet led Utah to the Western Conference Finals in 2007, where they lost to the eventual NBA champions, the San Antonio Spurs.
In the years that followed, the Jazz team was never quite able to match the glory of their 1990s era, led by Karl Malone and John Stockton, who made two Finals appearances during their prime. Nevertheless, Kirilenko definitely holds a place in the franchise's history. Similarly, 'AK-47' also stands out when discussing the most memorable nicknames in basketball.
Related: Andrei Kirilenko names a surprising player who was the first to 'bust his a**': "He was always in front of you"
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