How come AK isn't given any slack?

[Revolution 9]

I just don't think AK's passion is basketball. It's only his job.
We've heard reports(maybe untrue) about how he was the first to leave practice.
It didn't seem like AK was ever apart of the pre-season voluntary scrimmages.
A team leader isn't the first to leave practice, or one that rarely stays late to work on their game.
Seems like even Memo is more passionate with his work he puts in. I recall a report a few years back that Memo had logged
the most time in the Jazz's weight room. That was surprising.

The people that succeed in the NBA usually love basketball, and/or just have a really good work ethic.
AK seems to not have either. That's the sad part. The talent is there, the desire, passion, and love of the game are not.

 

[PearlWatson]

I just don't think AK's passion is basketball. It's only his job.
We've heard reports(maybe untrue) about how he was the first to leave practice.
It didn't seem like AK was ever apart of the pre-season voluntary scrimmages.
A team leader isn't the first to leave practice, or one that rarely stays late to work on their game.
Seems like even Memo is more passionate with his work he puts in. I recall a report a few years back that Memo had logged
the most time in the Jazz's weight room. That was surprising.

The people that succeed in the NBA usually love basketball, and/or just have a really good work ethic.
AK seems to not have either. That's the sad part. The talent is there, the desire, passion, and love of the game are not.

I don't doubt Kirilenko loves basketball. I do think he is a moody guy, who was successful at too young of an age. Like a child star he lacks emotional maturity. I'm sure he has been frustrated with injuries and distracted with video gaming and a cushy life, but he still has passion and desire...doesn't show it in his stoic demeanor.

 

[InGameStrategy]

I don't doubt Kirilenko loves basketball. I do think he is a moody guy, who was successful at too young of an age. Like a child star he lacks emotional maturity. I'm sure he has been frustrated with injuries and distracted with video gaming and a cushy life, but he still has passion and desire...doesn't show it in his stoic demeanor.

I don't associate the following picture with "stoic demeanor."

I'll grant you that Kirilenko loves basketball. I can think of about 18 million reasons why he loves basketball this year alone.

He just doesn't like the effort necessary to maximize his ability--or even approach justifying his salary. Or maybe even half of it.

By contrast, Paul Millsap loves basketball--and respects it by being the best player that his talents allow. Unfortunately PM's respect for basketball isn't enough to slow down Nowitzki--not that AK's lackadaisical love is.

 

[LunaticWolf]

I don't associate the following picture with "stoic demeanor."

I'll grant you that Kirilenko loves basketball. I can think of about 18 million reasons why he loves basketball this year alone.

He just doesn't like the effort necessary to maximize his ability--or even approach justifying his salary. Or maybe even half of it.

By contrast, Paul Millsap loves basketball--and respects it by being the best player that his talents allow. Unfortunately PM's respect for basketball isn't enough to slow down Nowitzki--not that AK's lackadaisical love is.

So what do you suggest we do? Trade him?

The offers we are going to get will be another ridiculously over-paid player, and a draft pick player.

A Jerome James and a "promising" young player.

Is that what we really need?

 

[vslice02]

I just don't think AK's passion is basketball. It's only his job.
We've heard reports(maybe untrue) about how he was the first to leave practice.
It didn't seem like AK was ever apart of the pre-season voluntary scrimmages.
A team leader isn't the first to leave practice, or one that rarely stays late to work on their game.

The people that succeed in the NBA usually love basketball, and/or just have a really good work ethic.
AK seems to not have either. That's the sad part. The talent is there, the desire, passion, and love of the game are not.

I think AK lost alot of his passion for the game during the 2006-07 season. It was then that his ability to free-lance and handle the ball alot diminished as the Jazz became Boozer's (and eventually Deron's) team after Andrei was clearly the cornerstone the previous 3 seasons. Once he lost that - he was no longer 100% accountable for the success or failure of the team - and without that pressure he never seemed to improve his game or play with the same reckless abandon he used to. (He still hustled, but in his first 4 seasons he made plays and sacrificed your body to the point I said something like "This guy plays so hard he would never let the money go to his head").

I remember Deron even said after the '07 playoffs something to the effect of Who am I going to pass it to? Harpring - who's shooting every day after practice - coming off a screen on one side or AK on the other?

 

[carolinajazz]

AK has played great this year. The truth is AK is overpaid. So what, there is nothing that can be done about that

....he has not played "great" this year...and has had more bad games than good. In any other profession you cannot perform as poorly as Klinko has on that many occassions and get paid $200,000 bucks per night for doing it! Your right, there is nothing we can do about it....other than not cut him any slack, which many of us choose not to do....and not resign him to another ridiculously pathetic contract, which I'm sure the Jazz won't do again!

 

[PearlWatson]

I don't associate the following picture with "stoic demeanor."
I'll grant you that Kirilenko loves basketball. I can think of about 18 million reasons why he loves basketball this year alone.

He just doesn't like the effort necessary to maximize his ability--or even approach justifying his salary. Or maybe even half of it.

By contrast, Paul Millsap loves basketball--and respects it by being the best player that his talents allow. Unfortunately PM's respect for basketball isn't enough to slow down Nowitzki--not that AK's lackadaisical love is.

LOL! Not in that picture, but on the court he is a serious guy. He does have a similar goofy grin when he gets called for fouls, though.

 

[One Brow]

.416 efg% on jumpers, .680 efg% on inside shots, 16.9% foul drawing percentage. You go under the screen.

Check out his hotspots chart. He's better on medium jumpers than short ones, and better still on 3s, overall. In many areas of the floor, you don't go under, in some areas it might make more sense.

 

[Bronco70]

*regardless

it's a Utah thing, you wouldn't understand.

If he brings this up again, I'm leaving the market.