NBA Q&A: Andrei Kirilenko

Courtesy of James Herbert

What's the difference between the way this team is playing now and the way it was at the beginning, when you could only watch?

I think it's a process. At the beginning of the season, we have a new team, new coach, new scenery for a lot of guys and it takes some time to get used to it. I think it takes us two, three months to kind of adjust to it. Obviously after new year we started getting better. We're playing better, playing with a different approach. Everybody started to understand each other better. It's a process.

How gratifying was it to get that win over the Heat and have the crowd going crazy, considering the way the team started?

The majority of my career I played in Utah, and Utah fans have always been, like, they have a history of cheering. For Brooklyn Nets, it's a pretty new crowd because the team moved from New Jersey, didn't have a big attendance there anyway and we didn't play well at the beginning of the season. So it's kind of tough for them to cheer for.

I think the last few games, we kind of sparked them into it. It will take some games to start feeling that, but I think fans, they always appreciate wins. And that's what we should provide them. Or we should provide them like great game, great, tough, competitive game. That's how you win your fans. I think lately we did a pretty good job to kind of win them and force them to cheer for us and bring excitement to the [fans wearing Brooklyn] hats.

How tough is it for a team to handle losing when it's largely because of injuries, like last year in Minnesota and the beginning of this year?

I think injuries are a part of basketball, a part of professional sports. That's the only thing you can't do anything about. I'm more philosophical. We can moan and cry about that, but it is going to happen and it's a part of it. Just have to take it for granted and move on. You got injuries, you try to get well as soon as possible and the rest of the guys will cover for you. Same as right now. Like, I'm not injured, somebody else is injured. We cover for that guy. That's the kind of process.

How are you feeling with your back?

It's getting better. Every game, it's dramatically improving. My movement is getting better, my jumping ability is getting better. I can stay longer, my endurance rate, it's going up.

What do you think of what Shaun Livingston's been able to do for the team?

He's a very talented point guard and skills-wise, being tall and being able to do with the ball point-guard skills and things, I think it's a great addition to the team. Especially right now, with Deron (Williams) being out, we need that spark. We need that point guard position to be productive and be active. So I think Shaun is doing a very good job in providing those minutes and providing those stats, those organizing skills.

You had [Phoenix Suns head coach] Jeff Hornacek as sort of your own personal shooting coach in Utah --

That's my man. I'm so happy for him. He's always been so talented with his understanding of the game, and finally he had a chance to kind of put it in the limelight. And he's blossomed. I like that. I'm very happy that he has a chance to coach and coach well.

You played Cleveland last week, and you've known Sergey Karasev since he was like 7 years old, right? What was it like to see him there?

It's not surprising me right now but my first impression when I saw him playing in Russia in the lockout year, that was shocking. Man, he grew up so fast.

What are your memories of playing with John Stockton and Karl Malone?

Definitely those first two years were special. You come in as a 19-year-old kid, seeing those guys who just played in the Finals against Jordan in '96 and '98, it's unbelievable. You feel like it's special and then you kind of get used to it, you take it for granted already.

My first impression, I came to practice and kind of introduced myself to everybody. I went to John Stockton, like, "How you doin'?" He's like, "Hi, my name is John." I'm like, "I know [laughs]. I know your name!"

They had two different personalities. Karl had always been like a vocal leader, like always saying what to do on the floor and never give a hand to the opposite guy. John's always been a quiet leader. For example, he never says anything in the game. Always been quiet.

But he was super competitive, right?

Unbelievable. The guy, what he was doing at 40 years old, I can't repeat it. 25 is my prime.

I read that you said you thought you'd retire by 30. Is that true?

Well at some point you think, well if things keep going like that, I might be retiring by 30. But at 30 years old you just realize, well, I've still got a couple more years in me.

I'm still thinking like I'll be finished soon. We'll see. You only think like that, but then the next year you're like, ehhh, OK, I have one more year in me.