Lakers: How A Former LA Champ Used His Championship Rings To Fight A War

Spectrum SportsNet recently highlighted Medvedenko's story in helping his homeland.

Former Los Ahgeles Lakers champion reserve Slava Medvedenko previously sold his championship rings to give back and raise funds for those impacted by the war in his home country, Ukraine.

This year, Lakers owner Jeanie Buss gave the former power forward new rings to replace them. Spectrum SportsNet also recently highlighted Medvedenko’s heartfelt actions and produced a Backstage: Lakers piece on his story. 

Hear the incredible story of Slava Medvedenko defending his homeland of Ukraine, the separation from his children during the war and why auctioning off two of his most prized possessions had to be done on the latest #BackstageLakers.https://t.co/WAO4XYrYpd

— Spectrum SportsNet (@SpectrumSN) March 4, 2023

Medvedenko was a part of the Lakers team during the time when they won back-to-back championships in 2001 and 2002. In his stint with Los Angeles, Medvedenko averaged 5.4 points and 2.9 rebounds. Before retiring, Medvedenko spent a total of six years with the Lakers and played one season with the Atlanta Hawks.

Medvedenko ended up selling his championship rings for $253,534 and gave all the money to his "Fly High Foundation”, which he founded in 2022 to help children that were impacted by the Russia and Ukraine war. On the organization's website, their mission aims to help children in Ukraine “return physical activity to their daily lives through restoring the destroyed sports infrastructure of Ukrainians schools and launch a network of social sports clubs.”

Although Medvedenko is years removed from the game of basketball, he has utilized his platform for good in order to improve children’s lives and help those in need. His actions and impacts prove to be long-lasting. 

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