back in july, east Slava Medvedenko with Los Angeles Sold two of his championship rings to raise money for his native Ukraine.
Lakers owner Jenny Buss Gifted him a replacement on Monday.
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Stanislav Medvedenko, #14 of the Los Angeles Lakers, lifts the ball during a game against the Memphis Grizzlies at Staples Center on March 31, 2003 in Los Angeles. The Lakers won 110–94.
(Lisa Blumenfeld / Getty Images)
Medvedenko sold the rings for $253,534 with all proceeds going to his Fly High Foundation, which focuses on repairing sports facilities affected by the war.
“We want to restore the gym because the Russian army bombed over a hundred schools,” he said. The Associated Press By phone in July “Our country, they need a lot of money to fix the schools. Sports gyms will be the last in line to fix it. In Ukraine, we have winter and the kids need to play inside. “
Medvedenko said he decided to sell the rings after watching rockets fired by the Russian military in the night sky from the roof of one of the tallest buildings in his Kyiv neighborhood.
Los Angeles Lakers head coach Phil Jackson #14 talks with Stanislav Medvedenko during a break in a game against the Phoenix Suns on December 21, 2003 at Staples Center in Los Angeles. The Lakers won 107–101.
(Photo by Lisa Blumenfeld / Getty Images)
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“At this moment I just decided, ‘Why do I need these rings if they’re sitting in my safe?'” Medvedenko said. “I just believe that I can die. After that, I just say that I have to sell them to show leadership to people, to help my Ukrainian people live better, to help children “
Medvedenko was a candidate for the Kyiv City Council in the 2020 election. He was ranked 11th in the election list and his party managed to win only nine seats.
Beyond his humanitarian efforts during the war, Medvedenko has long-term goals to help his country.
“After the victory, we will definitely return to the question of changing the quality in the game,” he said. “Ten years in the United States, I’ve seen how it works. I hope to have the ideal model in my mind to change Ukrainian sport.”
Stanislav Medvedenko, #14 of the Los Angeles Lakers, goes for a shot against the Vancouver Grizzlies at Staples Center on January 15, 2001.
(Photos by Robert Mora/NBAE via Getty Images)
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Medvedenko joined the Lakers in the 2000–01 season, winning an NBA championship that season and the following.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.