Former Lakers player Slava Medvedenko sells two championship rings

Medvedenko is doing everything to support his homeland as Russia’s invasion of Ukraine continues.

Slava Medvedenko helps his native Ukraine – and the Los Angeles Lakers fully support him.

The Former Lakers 43-year-old former NBA player, who played for the championship-winning organization from 2000 to 2006, will go the extra mile to guard his country amid the Russian invasion that began in February.

In an Former Lakers interview with The Athletic on Monday, Medvedenko told the paper. That he had sold much of his Lakers memorabilia at an auction to support Ukraine, including jerseys. Sneakers, also jerseys and was planning to win the 2000 and 2000 championship rings. To be auctioned off in 2001 to follow. The Lakers all supported Medvedenko’s efforts also offered to replace his crew if he sold the original version. Lakers CEO Linda Rambis Medvedenko said.

“I am proud to be an organization where our former players know when they need help. Also someone will take their call,” Lakers owner Ginny Buss told The Athletic. Medvedenko decided to remain in Ukraine after the first Russian invasion in February. During which he and a group of volunteers formed the No. Volunteer Formation. 29 of 128 separate battalions for the defense of the Kyiv region. His wife Elena runs the radio for the group, which gathered more than 200 volunteers in its first few weeks.

Medvedenko sent his two youngest children, Masha, 11, also Slava, 10, to his wife’s mother in western Ukraine, away from the fighting. His eldest daughter Alona lives in Texas.

The former NBA star was given a Soviet-era AK-47. As part of Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelenskyy’s pledge to arm every citizen who wants to defend the country.

“In three weeks, we were literally like a police organization,” said the former NBA player.