It is so perfect.

Andrei Kirilenko. Utah Jazz forward from Russia who wears jersey number 47.

Hence, AK-47 — his initials, his number — and the designation for the perhaps the most deadly assault rifle ever assembled, by the old Soviet Union.

The AK for the rifle comes from the Russian words for Automatic and Kalashnikov, referring to the firing mechanism and the man who designed the weapon, and the year it began to be produced, 1947.

The thing has been widely popular in the Soviet bloc, the Third World and on the black market. Apparently, more than 100 million of the things have been produced, making it the most common assault rifle on the planet.

The Utah Jazz version of the AK-47 hasn’t been uniformly lethal this season, averaging 11 points and 4.7 rebounds per game. But he did have a triple-double against the Lakers back on Nov. 30, when he scored 27, took 11 rebounds and had 11 assists.

Anyway, it’s unusual that a nickname fits so perfectly. Andrei Kililenko, No. 47 … AK-47.

The Lakers are in his sights, beginning Sunday at Staples Center.