Kirilenko Wins Europe League Player Of The Year Award
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- Andrei Kirilenko won the 2012 FIBA Europe Men's Player of the Year Award on Tuesday, and it's the second time he's netted the honor.
The 31-year-old Minnesota Timberwolves forward spent last season in Russia playing for CSKA Moscow where he led his team to the EuroLeague Final, a VTB League Championship and a first-place finish in Russia's domestic league. He averaged 14.1 points per contest on nearly 60 percent shooting in 17 EuroLeague games, in addition to 7.5 rebounds and 2.4 assists per game.
He was also named 2012 Euroleague Best Defender for his efforts. He also helped the Russians take home the country's first ever Olympic medal in men's basketball at the 2012 Summer Olympics.
For Minnesota, he's averaging 13.3 ppg, 6.3 rpg and 3.0 assists per contest.
