Andrei Kirilenko had a difficult and sometimes emotional time with the Utah Jazz last season, but recent interviews in two Russian publications seem to indicate he is quite comfortable with his Utah surroundings, especially the predominant local religion and landscape.
In translations done for the Deseret Morning News of interviews in both the nationwide Russian newspaper Izvestia and on the Web site www.sovsport.ru, the Jazz's Russian forward said that since he is very much a family man and does not smoke or drink and rarely even has coffee, "If you want to crudely reason, then yes — in spirit I am Mormon."
Kirilenko was interviewed while working with the Russian national team, which will play in Eurobasket in Spain next week hoping to qualify for the 2008 Olympics.
Both publications had big interest in Kirilenko's impressions of Utah, asking if everyone in Salt Lake City is Mormon, if Mormons try to get him to convert, if they bother him.
"No, not at all," he told Izvestia. "On the contrary I like their way of life. I don't smoke and don't drink alcohol. I drink coffee very seldom, but can't imagine my table without tea. And nobody forbids me to drink it at my convenience."
Kirilenko — who came to tears early in the Jazz's 2007 run to the Western Conference Finals in the NBA Playoffs over his diminished role for coach Jerry Sloan — ably defended his NBA home of the past six years and told both publications that he feels a kinship to Utah.
He even volunteered information to Izvestia to dispel a common European notion about Mormons. "In general, there are many rumors in Europe about Mormons. I'll try to eliminate one of them at least," he said. "There is no trace of plural marriage among the inhabitants of Utah, and it has been that way already more than 100 years."
What Kirilenko does see in Utah is a strong commitment to family. "Practically every married couple has five or six children to whom they try to give each a good education, and the Mormon community helps them with this. There is also a cult of health and sport.... To me personally, such ways are to my liking."
He had similar comments for Soviet Sport. "Mormons are the same Christians like us. Indeed, they hold to strong principles, which characterize their religion. Primarily, it is a cult of family and children. I, as a person and father of two, like this approach." He noted, "There are many different clubs, establishments and entertainment centers designed specifically for children.
"And one more thing about Mormons: They are absolutely peaceful people. They don't agitate anyone and don't force anyone into their faith."
Asked by Soviet Sport, "How can you tell a Mormon from a normal person?" Kirilenko responded, "There is no way. They don't have any special distinctive marks or fragments of clothing that emphasizes their relationship to a religious group."
Even as far away as Russia, Utah's reputation for not having much entertainment is known, but Kirilenko said he has little time to worry about such things with practice and traveling. It is more difficult for his wife, Masha, but she has the two children to care for and had started her own clothing store at Gateway. "The store is like a distraction for her," he said.
When friends or relatives from Russia visit, Kirilenko told Izvestia the first thing he shows them is: "Basketball, of course! In the USA this is truly a holy thing and not simply another scheduled calendar game.
"Then, I for sure take them to a ski resort on the outskirts of Salt Lake City. On the whole in Utah there is a widespread passion for skiing and snowboarding, and without question the 2002 Olympic Games increased the interest to these types of sports," Kirilenko said.
"Admittedly, I myself don't ski so I don't unexpectedly get a personal injury. There is even a special point in my contract about this. But either way, I often go up the mountains with relatives and friends in order to breathe the clean frosty air."
Translation from Russian by Anna Tenney and J.C. Tenney