Slava Medvedenko is selling his two NBA championship rings to raise money for his nativeUkraine.
Medvedenko was a member of the Lakers' 2001 and 2002 championship teams.
The final price of both rings will be donated to the Fly High Foundation. In order to support Ukrainian children, it wants to reestablish the sports infrastructure of the war-torn country's schools and launch a network of social sports clubs.
The Russian army bombed more than a hundred schools, so he wants to restore gym facilities. A lot of money is needed to fix the schools. The sports gym is going to be last in the line to fix the problem. Kids need to play in the winter in Ukranian.
There is an auction from Wednesday to August 5. Both rings will raise at least $100,000 according to the company.
The rings were sold by Medvedenko after he went to the roof of one of the tallest buildings in his neighborhood to watch the rockets being fired.
I decided that I didn't need the rings if they were just sitting in my safe. Medvedenko made a statement. I'm aware that I can die. I have to sell them to show people leadership, to help my Ukrainian people, to help kids.
Medvedenko was in Warsaw, Poland, where he staged a charity basketball game to raise money for Ukrainian refugees who fled the war.
You feel it's war in Ukraine. He said that you're used to it. It's a different world when you cross the border.
The Medvedenkos have two daughters and a son. Medvedenko's children were sent to live with their grandmother in another part of the country after Russia invadedUkraine.
After they stayed for 112 months, they called me and asked if they could come back. He said that they wanted to be with them.
Medvedenko's family has not been together since the war began.
Every day we have an air alert. He said it could be three or four times a day. Kids are used to it. We have a backyard. They are used to it.
During the war, Medvedenko was a member of the territorial defense forces.
We were patrolling and doing checkpoint checks. He said that he could give them support even though he wasn't the best shooter. I don't shoot it at people. I don't have the opportunity to shoot someone. The army did a good job. I would like to say thank you.
Medvedenko was a candidate for the council. His party only won nine seats because he was eleventh on the list.
Medvedenko wants to help his country in the future.
He said that after the victory, they would return to the question of quality changes in sport. I have seen how it works in the US for ten years. I would like to change Ukrainian sport.
In the 2000-01 season, Medvedenko was a member of the Lakers. He had his best season in 2003-04 when he started 38 games in place of injured Karl Malone and averaged 8.3 points and 5.0 rebound. Medvedenko was traded to the Atlanta Hawks after his last season in the league due to injuries.
Medvedenko said he has a relationship with two former Lakers. Sports equipment has been sent toUkraine.
He said the Lakers family helped him. The Lakers are always in my thoughts.
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