After selling the hardware to help his home country, the former Laker received new ones.
Former title-winning Los Angeles Lakers power forward Stanislav “Slava” Medvedenko received some replacement championship rings on Monday during one of the team’s fan events. Medvedenko previously sold his championship rings to give back and raise funds for those impacted by the war in his home country, Ukraine.
Lakers owner Jeanie Buss recognized this heartfelt action and gave Medvenko new rings:
The 6’10’’ power forward played with Los Angeles from 2001 to 2002, where he was a part of the teams that won back-to-back championships. Medvedenko played five of his six NBA seasons with the Lakers and later spent one season with the Atlanta Hawks before he retired.
Medvedenko sold his championship rings for $253,534 and gave all the money to his “Fly High Foundation.”
He created the organization in 2022 with the hope to help children that were impacted by the war between Russia and Ukraine. Beyond this goal, his other mission aims to repair school sports facilities that were also affected by the war.
Medvedenko recognized the ability he has to significantly help those in need and improve children’s lives. On top of selling his rings, he also served in Ukraine’s territorial defense while the war was going on. Medvedenko displayed a commitment to the cause with his genuine actions, and his actions certainly did not go unnoticed.
