For most international players, the dream is to play in the NBA for recognition, prestige, and fulfillment of childhood ambitions. Also, playing in the premier pay-for-play basketball league on the planet gives them an opportunity not only to test and improve their skills against the best in the world, but also to earn a significantly higher salary.
However, after their playing careers in the association are over, many of these foreign players return to their home countries. However, there are those who end up seeking citizenship and choosing to live the "American Dream" with their entire families. But becoming a U.S. citizen does not only come with American privileges. It also includes obligations as such.
And so when former NBA star Andrei Kirilenko finally became a U.S. citizen in 2011, his first statement was about the most common duty of every American.
"You have to pay taxes, all the way to the end of life," he said .
Kirilenko was the Utah Jazz's 24th overall pick in the 1999 NBA Draft out of his home country, Russia. At 18 years and 132 days, he was the youngest foreign-born player to be drafted into the NBA and the first Russian player to be picked in the first round of the NBA Draft at the time. Andrei played his first 10 NBA seasons with the Jazz and, during his final season with the team, sought U.S. citizenship.
"It's an important decision for me and my family," Kirilenko said . "I'm very grateful for the two countries, America and Russia. I really feel I'm a double citizen. I was born in Russia and grew up there, and then I came to America and learned a lot. I'm really grateful for everything I have since I've got here, on and off the court."
During the process, Kirilenko revealed that he was asked seven questions, including topics about the Civil War and Native Americans. He answered six correctly to pass the citizenship test. "AK47" also told ESPN that if he were asked to sing the U.S. national anthem, he would have passed that test too, with flying colors.
"About 100 games a year, so 1,000 times I hear Star Spangled Banner. I'm kind of familiar with it," he said.
In an interview with "Desert News", Kirilenko provided details about the questions on the oral and written tests he and his wife took. Andrei said that although they had little trouble passing them, they were "tough".
"I know for some guys it's kind of trouble, but it wasn't a very hard test," he said . As for what he thought was the most difficult question asked, he replied: "Why the colonists didn't like Great Britain. It was taxation without representation. I said everyone wanted freedom."
"How many amendments to the Constitution? Which territory was given to the U.S. from France? And w ho is the vice president?" he revealed further the other questions. "I knew it was Biden, but I was ready for who is the third in charge."
And so on January 11, 2011, Kirilenko and his wife, Masha, who also took the test, were both sworn in as U.S. citizens at the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Office, just off the freeway at 5300 South in Salt Lake City. From that day on, he swore to pay U.S. taxes like any American would, for life.
This story was originally published by Basketball Network on Apr 24, 2026, where it first appeared in the Off The Court section. Add Basketball Network as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
