Andrei Kirilenko is moving back to Russia to fight in Rockey VII.

Kirilenko who is under contract through 2011 with about $63 million left, is ready to leave the NBA and all his money behind so he can return to Europe to play basketball. Say What?!?! “I just want to explain to everybody what I think and feel and that I could sacrifice my career with the NBA. The only thing I’m not prepared for is if I’m told, ‘Andrei, we want you to stay anyway.’ I’m sure then the next season would be a repetition of the previous one, and what will the fans say then? How could you possibly rely on a player who wants to leave?”

Damn.

“I have never been unfair and I don’t want to enjoy something that I don’t deserve,” Kirilenko told Sport Express. “Big money is obviously good, but I am prepared to make less. The size of my salary doesn’t mean that much for me. The main thing is to play with a spark.”

Double Damn.

Kirilenko obviously has millions of dollars in his bank account, so it’s not like he would be scraping by if he moves back to Russia. But who on Earth has ever laid down $63 million in guarenteed money? There was a period a few years ago when Andrei was one of the best shooters in the game. He is a star in the NBA.

I guess the old saying is true: You can’t buy happiness.