CSKA says Ex-Jazz's Kirilenko could be out until January; agent says 7-10 days

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Former Utah Jazz forward Andrei Kirilenko could be out until January, according to a report on CSKA Moscow's website.Kirilenko broke his nose and injured his left shoulder Nov. 19 while playing for CSKA.The team said Monday additional tests showed "contusion changes in the muscles and ligaments of the left shoulder [that] will require long-term therapeutic measures." An extended rehabilitation period will be required, according to the team, and Kirilenko is expected to miss CSKA's remaining games through 2011.

"I know nothing about it," agent Marc Fleisher told The Salt Lake Tribune. "Andrei told me yesterday or the day before … the doctors just wanted to give his broken nose another four or five days to recover and he was going to wear a mask. Nothing about his shoulder hurting. Nothing about anything like that."

Fleisher previously said Monday that Kirilenko will weigh returning to the NBA as an unrestricted free agent versus remaining in Russia to play with CSKA.

Update

Fleisher told The Tribune at 4:50 p.m. MT he spoke with Kirilenko about the report he could be out until January.

Fleisher: "He said he'll be out 7-10 days but maybe faster if he rehabs it faster. There's nothing torn, there's nothing damaged. It's just a blood contusion. ... He thinks if he had to he could play right now. ... He said to me 7-10 days more. Originally the guy said two to three weeks, and it's already been seven days. And he said he thinks he'll be ready earlier than then. He's more concerned about having to wear a facemask for the first couple weeks of the season than he is about the shoulder."

Brian T. Smith

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