'I'm Going to Help': Dennis Rodman Plans Trip to Russia Seeking Release of Baylor Ex Brittney Griner
As the U.S. government works to bring home detained WNBA star and former Baylor Bears women's basketball player Brittney Griner, a NBA legend wants to travel to Russia to help.
Five-time champion and longtime Chicago Bulls center Dennis Rodman announced this weekend he plans to get involved.
“I got permission to go to Russia to help that girl,” Rodman said. “I’m trying to go this week.”
The Basketball Hall of Famer, who gained fame as a champion with Bulls and also played briefly for the Dallas Mavs, told NBC News of his intention to travel to Russia in the near future to seek Griner’s release.
Griner, 31, was sentenced to nine years in prison in Russia earlier this month after facing drug charges following her arrest at a Moscow airport in February for possessing hashish oil in her luggage.
Griner issued a guilty plea to a Russian court on July 7 and also included an ask for mercy from the judge. Griner claimed that, while she did commit the crime, she did so inadvertently.
She made another statement Thursday ahead of her verdict.
"I never meant to hurt anybody, I never meant to put in jeopardy the Russian population, I never meant to break any laws here," Griner said, via CNN. "I made an honest mistake and I hope that in your ruling that it doesn't end my life here. I know everybody keeps talking about political pawn and politics, but I hope that that is far from this courtroom.
The former Baylor star was the No. 1 overall pick in 2013. As a WNBA Champion, eight-time All-Star, and Olympic gold medalist, she's started all 254 games in her WNBA career while averaging 17.7 points, 7.6 rebounds, 1.8 assists, and 2.8 blocks on 56 percent shooting.
In four seasons in Waco, Griner's performance made her become one of the best college basketball players of all time. She led Baylor to an overall record of 106-5 during her final three years, which included a 40-0 finish in 2011-12. She averaged 22 points, 8.7 rebounds, 1.5 assists, and an astounding 5.1 blocks per game during her collegiate career.
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