The Jazz's Andrei Kirilenko makes his debut in the national spotlight on All-Star Saturday, when he participates in the "Got Milk? Rookie Challenge" this afternoon at the First Union Center in Philadelphia.
 
Kirilenko and eight of the other top rookies in the NBA will play a team of second-year stars in the first competition of All-Star Weekend, beginning at 2 p.m. MST.
 
Kirilenko, a 20-year-old Russian, could not have picked a better time for his first moment on center stage. He has been playing the best basketball of his young career, which could receive a serious boost in front of the worldwide news media covering the All-Star festivities.
 
"Of course, I am very excited," Kirilenko said. "But I must keep my emotions inside of me. I don't want to lose all my energy because, after the All-Star break, we must play on a long, long road trip and that is the most important thing."
 
Already on target to have the most impact of any Jazz rookie since Karl Malone in 1985-86, Kirilenko averages 10.1 points, 5.1 rebounds and 1.9 blocked shots. Along with John Stockton and Malone, he is the only Jazz player to appear in all 49 games.
 
In the last 12 games, Kirilenko has scored in double figures 10 times. In the last six games, he averages 3.2 blocked shots.
 
"He's been playing pretty well," coach Jerry Sloan said, "and we're happy he was picked to play [today]. . . . Andrei is a very athletic. He has to keep working. There are still things he has to work on. But he is a very talented young player."