But it almost happened for Andrei Kirilenko, who is now known as AK-47 around the NBA merely because of the jersey number he chose as a rookie with the Utah Jazz. Kirilenko originally arrived in Utah in 2001, and he was supposed to wear No. "I had to alter because of the veteran's rule," Kirilenko explained. "In the beginning, they wanted me to wear zero because that's what John Stockton wore. So I said I couldn't do it." The Jazz eventually gave in and let Kirilenko wear another number. The reason why he chose 47 is because his mother has a friend who is a cancer survivor and wears that number in honor of her recovery. Andrei Kirilenko is a Russian former basketball player who has been referred to as "the human highlight reel" due to his ability to make shots from different angles and areas on the court. He also has been praised for his defense and passing skills. At 6'3", 215 pounds, Kirilenko has both the height and weight to be an effective perimeter defender. He currently plays for the Moscow-based team CSKA Moscow in the EuroLeague. The last season he played in the United States was 2010-2011 when he appeared in 76 games for the Jazz, averaging 17.0 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 2.8 assists per game. He has become one of my favorite players to watch on offense because of how much variety he brings to the table.