Former Lakers player Slava Medvedenko is offering his two NBA championship rings to raise money for Ukraine

Former Los Angeles Lakers player Slava Medvedenko is providing his two NBA championship rings to elevate money for his indigenous Ukraine.

Medvedenko was a ability ahead on the Lakers’ championship teams in 2001 and ’02, participating in alongside Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal.

SCP Auctions is donating the complete final sale rate of each rings to Medvedenko’s Fly Substantial Foundation. Its purpose is to assist Ukrainian young children by restoring the sporting activities infrastructure of the war-torn country’s faculties and launching a network of social athletics golf equipment.

"We want to restore fitness centers since the Russian army bombed much more than a hundred educational institutions," he explained to The G3 Box News by cellular phone on Sunday. "Our country, they require a large amount of dollars to correct the educational facilities. Sporting activities fitness centers are likely to be very last in the line to repair it. In Ukraine, we have winter season and little ones want to play inside."

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Ben Wallace #3 of the Detroit Pistons battles for placement with Slava Medvedenko #14 and Rick G3 Box News #17 of the Los Angeles Lakers in the third quarter of game four of the 2004 NBA Finals on June 13, 2004 at The Palace of Auburn Hills in Auburn Hills, Michigan.  (Photo by Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Illustrations or photos)

The auction operates from Wednesday via Aug. 5. The Laguna Niguel, California-centered company estimates both of those rings will raise at the very least $100,000.

Medvedenko stated he made a decision to offer the rings following heading to the roof of one of the tallest structures in his Kyiv community and watching rockets introduced by Russian forces streak by the night time sky.

"In this moment I just decided, ‘Why do I will need these rings if they’re just sitting in my risk-free?’" Medvedenko mentioned. "I just acknowledge I can die. Right after that, I just say I have to offer them to present people leadership, to enable my Ukrainian people today to stay much better, to enable young children."

Medvedenko spoke from Warsaw, Poland, where by he staged a offered out charity basketball match to elevate income for Ukrainian refugees who crossed the border to escape the war.

"In Ukraine, you are just experience it is war, rockets, air alerts. You are so utilised to that kind of tension," he explained. "As before long as you cross the border and see how people reside ordinary lifetime, it is really a unique world."

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Stanislav Medvedenko #14 of the Los Angeles Lakers goes up for a shot towards the Vancouver Grizzlies at the Staples Centre on January 15, 2001. (Pictures by Robert Mora/NBAE by way of Getty Illustrations or photos)

The 43-12 months-previous is married with two daughters, ages 16 and 11, and a 10-12 months-old son. Soon after Russia invaded Ukraine in February, Medvedenko despatched his kids to live with their grandmother in a different component of the country.

"Soon after they remain for 1 1/2 months, they were all the time contacting me and asking, ‘Papa, can we appear household? We want to be with you and Momma,’" he recalled.

Five months into the war, Medvedenko has reunited his household in Kyiv.

"We have air alerts virtually each and every day. From time to time it is 3 or 4 occasions a day," he stated. "The youngsters are so utilized to it. They engage in in our yard. They not even prevent taking part in they are made use of to it."

Medvedenko has served in Ukraine's territorial protection forces all through the war.

"We were being defending our community, performing checkpoints and responsibility patrol. I'm not the best solider, I am not the best shooter, but I can give them guidance," he claimed, incorporating that he carried an AK-47. "I shoot it a couple instances, not at folks. I am pleased I do not have a opportunity to shoot somebody. Our army did a terrific work to defend Kyiv. I want to thank them."

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Head mentor Phil Jackson talks with Stanislav Medvedenko #14 of the Los Angeles Lakers in the course of a break in the match towards the Phoenix Suns on December 21, 2003 at Staples Center in Los Angeles, California.  The Lakers gained 107-101.  (Photograph by Lisa Blumenfeld/Getty Photos)

Medvedenko was a applicant for Kyiv Metropolis Council in the 2020 election. He was 11th on the election list and his social gathering only managed to gain nine seats.

Further than his humanitarian endeavours in the course of the war, Medvedenko has very long-time period plans to aid his nation.

"Right after the victory, we will absolutely return to that question of top quality improvements in sport," he explained. "10 decades in the United States, I saw how it functions. I hope I have excellent design in my mind to alter Ukrainian activity."

Medvedenko joined the Lakers in the 2000-01 period. He had his very best season in 2003-04 when he started off 38 games in location of wounded Hall of Famer Karl Malone, and averaged 8.3 factors and 5. rebounds. Accidents later on slowed him and Medvedenko was traded to the Atlanta Hawks in 2006-07, his final year in the league.

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Stanislav Medvedenko #14 of the Los Angeles Lakers shoots towards the Golden Condition Warriors all through an NBA match at the the Arena in Oakalnd on December 23, 2003 in Oakland, California.  The Warriors received 107-98.   (Picture by Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Photos)

Medvedenko explained he texts with former Lakers Mark Madsen and Luke Walton. The team has despatched athletics gear for use in Ukraine.

"The Lakers family constantly support me," he claimed. "The Lakers are usually in my coronary heart."