Russia's Andrei Kirilenko missed last year's EuroBasket in Poland so he and his wife could concentrate on the adoption of their baby daughter.

On Thursday, the EuroBasket 2007 MVP announced he is skipping the FIBA World Championship.

The 29-year-old forward missed most of his team's games at the end of the NBA season with a calf injury and he said in Thursday's Sport-Express newspaper: "A few days ago, I had a conversation with (Utah) management and agreed that I should not go the World Championship.

"The Jazz had recommended to me that I should stay, but ultimately the decision was down to me."

Russia finished seventh at last year's EuroBasket and needed a wild card to take part in this year's 24-team basketball tournament in Turkey.

The Russians will face Greece, Ivory Coast, Puerto Rico, China and hosts Turkey in Group C at the FIBA World Championship.

Those Preliminary Round games will be in Ankara.