Previous Los Angeles Lakers participant Slava Medvedenko is offering his two NBA championship rings to raise income for his native Ukraine.

Medvedenko was a electricity forward on the Lakers’ championship groups in 2001 and ’02, taking part in alongside Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal.

SCP Auctions is donating the whole last sale cost of equally rings to Medvedenko’s Fly Superior Foundation. Its objective is to help Ukrainian small children by restoring the sports infrastructure of the war-torn country’s faculties and launching a network of social sporting activities clubs.

"We want to restore gyms due to the fact the Russian army bombed much more than a hundred schools," he advised The by telephone on Sunday. "Our region, they want a ton of revenue to correct the educational facilities. Sports activities gyms are likely to be last in the line to fix it. In Ukraine, we have winter season and kids need to have to play inside."

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Ben Wallace #3 of the Detroit Pistons battles for place with Slava Medvedenko #14 and Rick WHD #17 of the Los Angeles Lakers in the 3rd quarter of video game four of the 2004 NBA Finals on June 13, 2004 at The Palace of Auburn Hills in Auburn Hills, Michigan.  (Picture by Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Visuals)

The auction operates from Wednesday by way of Aug. 5. The Laguna Niguel, California-centered enterprise estimates both of those rings will elevate at minimum $100,000.

Medvedenko reported he determined to promote the rings following likely to the roof of a person of the tallest structures in his Kyiv community and observing rockets launched by Russian forces streak as a result of the night time sky.

"In this minute I just made a decision, ‘Why do I require these rings if they are just sitting down in my protected?’" Medvedenko claimed. "I just realize I can die. After that, I just say I have to offer them to show people today management, to assistance my Ukrainian individuals to stay greater, to support young ones."

Medvedenko spoke from Warsaw, Poland, exactly where he staged a offered out charity basketball video game to increase revenue for Ukrainian refugees who crossed the border to escape the war.

"In Ukraine, you are just emotion it is war, rockets, air alerts. You’re so made use of to that sort of tension," he reported. "As quickly as you cross the border and see how individuals dwell standard existence, it truly is a distinct earth."

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Stanislav Medvedenko #14 of the Los Angeles Lakers goes up for a shot from the Vancouver Grizzlies at the Staples Centre on January 15, 2001. (Images by Robert Mora/NBAE by using Getty Visuals)

The 43-yr-old is married with two daughters, ages 16 and 11, and a 10-year-old son. Right after Russia invaded Ukraine in February, Medvedenko despatched his children to stay with their grandmother in yet another section of the place.

"Immediately after they continue to be for 1 1/2 months, they had been all the time contacting me and inquiring, ‘Papa, can we arrive household? We want to be with you and Momma,’" he recalled.

5 months into the war, Medvedenko has reunited his family in Kyiv.

"We have air alerts nearly each individual working day. Often it is 3 or four situations a day," he said. "The children are so used to it. They perform in our yard. They not even halt taking part in they are utilized to it."

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

"We were being defending our community, undertaking checkpoints and responsibility patrol. I am not the greatest solider, I am not the finest shooter, but I can give them support," he stated, introducing that he carried an AK-47. "I shoot it a few moments, not at persons. I'm satisfied I will not have a likelihood to shoot any individual. Our military did a fantastic occupation to protect Kyiv. I want to thank them."

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

Medvedenko was a candidate for Kyiv City Council in the 2020 election. He was 11th on the election checklist and his bash only managed to gain nine seats.

Beyond his humanitarian endeavours in the course of the war, Medvedenko has prolonged-time period targets to aid his state.

"Just after the victory, we will definitely return to that problem of top quality changes in activity," he reported. "10 years in the United States, I saw how it works. I hope I have suitable model in my mind to alter Ukrainian activity."

Medvedenko joined the Lakers in the 2000-01 period. He experienced his very best season in 2003-04 when he started out 38 video games in position of injured Corridor of Famer Karl Malone, and averaged 8.3 points and 5. rebounds. Accidents later slowed him and Medvedenko was traded to the Atlanta Hawks in 2006-07, his final period in the league.

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

Medvedenko explained he texts with former Lakers Mark Madsen and Luke Walton. The workforce has sent sports gear for use in Ukraine.

"The Lakers family constantly help me," he mentioned. "The Lakers are constantly in my coronary heart."