The Dream Life Of Andrei Kirilenko

SITTING AT his kitchen counter with his wife by his side, Kirilenko looks to be at peace. His family is happy—when asked his favorite place, the Kirilenkos' seven-year-old son, Fedor, says, "America"—in part because he and Masha have decided to leave the basketball talk in the gym. "We used to talk about it all the time," says Andrei. "It was 24/7. Now we try to focus on other stuff." He still thinks about playing in Russia, but not anytime soon. "When my contract is up, I'd like to go back," he says. "I want my country to see me play before I am too old."

For now, life is a sweet dream. Really. Sure, he's a little more jaded—"It's hard to totally forget all the stuff that happened," he says—but he's usually wearing the grin that Masha fell in love with nine years ago. "I've seen Andrei happier two times," says Masha. "When he made the All-Star team and on our honeymoon. He just wants to help his team. That's the only thing that matters to him."