LOS ANGELES — Former Los Angeles Lakers participant Slava Medvedenko is promoting his two NBA championship rings to lift cash for his native Ukraine.
Medvedenko was an influence ahead on the Lakers’ championship groups in 2001 and ’02, enjoying alongside Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal.
SCP Auctions is donating the whole closing sale worth of each rings to Medvedenko’s Fly Excessive Basis. Its objective is to assist Ukrainian youngsters by restoring the sports activities infrastructure of the war-torn nation’s colleges and launching a community of social sports activities golf equipment.
“We wish to restore gyms as a result of the Russian military bombed greater than 100 colleges,” he informed The Related Press by telephone on Sunday. “Our nation, they want some huge cash to repair the faculties. Sports activities gyms are going to be final within the line to repair it. In Ukraine, we have now winter and youngsters have to play inside.”
The public sale runs from Wednesday via Aug. 5. The Laguna Niguel, California-based firm estimates each rings will elevate not less than $100,000.
Medvedenko mentioned he determined to promote the rings after going to the roof of one of many tallest buildings in his Kyiv neighborhood and watching rockets launched by Russian forces streak via the evening sky.
“On this second I simply determined, ‘Why do I want these rings in the event that they’re simply sitting in my secure?’” Medvedenko mentioned. “I simply acknowledge I can die. After that, I simply say I've to promote them to point out folks management, to assist my Ukrainian folks to dwell higher, to assist children.”
Medvedenko spoke from Warsaw, Poland, the place he staged a offered out charity basketball sport to lift cash for Ukrainian refugees who crossed the border to flee the warfare.
“In Ukraine, you’re simply feeling it’s warfare, rockets, air alerts. You’re so used to that form of stress,” he mentioned. “As quickly as you cross the border and see how folks dwell regular life, it’s a distinct world.”
The 43-year-old is married with two daughters, ages 16 and 11, and a 10-year-old son. After Russia invaded Ukraine in February, Medvedenko despatched his youngsters to dwell with their grandmother in one other a part of the nation.
“After they keep for 1 1/2 months, they have been on a regular basis calling me and asking, ‘Papa, can we come residence? We wish to be with you and Momma,’” he recalled.
5 months into the warfare, Medvedenko has reunited his household in Kyiv.
“We've air alerts virtually daily. Typically it’s three or 4 instances a day,” he mentioned. “The children are so used to it. They play in our yard. They not even cease enjoying they're used to it.”
Medvedenko has served in Ukraine’s territorial protection forces in the course of the warfare.
“We have been defending our neighborhood, doing checkpoints and obligation patrol. I’m not the perfect solider, I’m not the perfect shooter, however I may give them assist,” he mentioned, including that he carried an AK-47. “I shoot it a pair instances, not at folks. I’m joyful I don’t have an opportunity to shoot anyone. Our military did a terrific job to defend Kyiv. I wish to thank them.”
Medvedenko was a candidate for Kyiv Metropolis Council within the 2020 election. He was eleventh on the election checklist and his celebration solely managed to win 9 seats.
Past his humanitarian efforts in the course of the warfare, Medvedenko has long-term targets to assist his nation.
“After the victory, we will certainly return to that query of high quality adjustments in sport,” he mentioned. “Ten years in the USA, I noticed the way it works. I hope I've supreme mannequin in my thoughts to alter Ukrainian sport.”
Medvedenko joined the Lakers within the 2000-01 season. He had his finest season in 2003-04 when he began 38 video games rather than injured Corridor of Famer Karl Malone, and averaged 8.3 factors and 5.0 rebounds. Accidents later slowed him and Medvedenko was traded to the Atlanta Hawks in 2006-07, his closing season within the league.
Medvedenko mentioned he texts with former Lakers Mark Madsen and Luke Walton. The staff has despatched sports activities tools to be used in Ukraine.
“The Lakers household all the time assist me,” he mentioned. “The Lakers are all the time in my coronary heart.”
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