Ex-Lakers champ gave away spare rings after being forced to sell his for $253,000

SLAVA Medvedenko has received replacement championship rings from the Los Angeles Lakers after they auctioned off the originals for charity.

The 43-year-old Ukrainian raised over $253,000 to help victims of Russia’s aggression on his homeland.

2

2

Medvedenko took up arms and joined one of Kiev’s voluntary territorial defense groups in the early stages of the war in Ukraine.

But after the fighting turned east, the former Lakers forward focused on humanitarian efforts in his home country through his Fly High Foundation.

One of Medvedenko’s goals is to rebuild sports infrastructure at schools in the areas hardest hit by Russia’s violent aggression.

To that end, he began auctioning off memorabilia from his NBA career, including the two championship rings he won with the Lakers between 2001 and 2002.

LA promised to replace the rings if Medvedenko sold them to charity.

And he did with the Kiev native, who ended up raising $253,534 from the sale — despite the jewelry, which was initially valued at at least $100,000.

The franchise has kept its word as Lakers Gov. Jeanie Buss introduced the Ukrainian with new rings at a fan event on April 23.

Medvedenko won back-to-back titles for LA alongside Shaquille O’Neal and Kobe Bryant.

He spent six seasons with the Lakers before ending his NBA career with the Atlanta Hawks in 2007.

During his time in the league, the forward averaged 5.3 points and 2.8 rebounds, averaging 12.7 minutes per game in 263 games.