Andrei an All-Star
By Phil Miller
The Salt Lake Tribune
It was a joke, but a message, too. In his own dry-wit way, Jerry Sloan reminded Andrei Kirilenko why Western Conference coaches had selected the Jazz forward to the NBA All-Star Game.
"Congratulations, Andrei," Sloan said Tuesday morning when news of Kirilenko's appointment spread. "Now you don't have to play defense any more."
That might be the case on Feb. 15, when Kirilenko takes part in the notoriously free-wheeling dunkfest that the All-Star Game has become. But don't expect the Russian to abandon his defensive dedication when he gets back from Los Angeles -- because he understands that defense is what got him to his sport's highest level.
"I know why they choose me. I'm a team player, I like to block shots, steal the ball," Kirilenko said. "Play defense to help the team win."
That's the focus that convinced coaches to select the third-year Jazz forward ahead of a roster of other deserving candidates. Along with Kirilenko, the 14 coaches cast their votes for guards Sam Cassell of Minnesota and Ray Allen of Seattle; forwards Peja Stojakovic and Brad Miller of Sacramento and Dirk Nowitzki of Dallas; and center Shaquille O'Neal of Los Angeles. (The starters, elected by fans, are the Lakers' Kobe Bryant, the Rockets' Steve Francis and Yao Ming, the Timberwolves' Kevin Garnett and the Spurs' Tim Duncan.)
"I don't think I'm going to play a lot," Kirilenko said with evident awe. "There's a lot of big stars there. I'm a little star."
