Slava Medvedenko
{{short description|Ukrainian basketball player}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2023}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| office =
| term_start =
| term_end =
| image = Slava Medvedenko.png
| caption = Slava Medvedenko being interviewed as a coach after a match in which the Ukrainian team U16 played in 2015
| name = Slava Medvedenko
| nationality = Ukrainian
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1979|4|4|df=y}}
| birth_place = Karapyshi, Ukrainian SSR, Soviet Union
| residence = Kyiv
| party = Holos (Ukrainian for "Voice")
| module = {{Infobox basketball biography
| embed = yes
| image =
| width =
| caption =
| height_ft = 6
| height_in = 10
| weight_lb = 250
| nationality =
| birth_date =
| draft_year = 1998
| career_start = 1996
| career_end = 2007
| career_position = Power forward
| career_number = 14
| years1 = 1996–1997
| team1 = Dandy Basket
| years2 = 1997–1998
| team2 = Budivelnik Kyiv
| years3 = 1998–1999
| team3 = Alita Alytus
| years4 = 1999–2000
| team4 = Kyiv
| years5 = {{nbay|2000|start}}–{{nbay|2005|end}}
| team5 = Los Angeles Lakers
| years6 = {{nbay|2006|full=y}}
| team6 = Atlanta Hawks
| highlights =
- 2× NBA champion (2001, 2002)
| stats_league = NBA
| stat1label = Points
| stat1value = 1,390 (5.3 ppg)
| stat2label = Rebounds
| stat2value = 744 (2.8 rpg)
| stat3label = Assists
| stat3value = 136 (0.5 apg)
| bbr = medvest01
}}
}}
Stanislav "Slava" Medvedenko ({{langx|uk|Станіслав "Слава" Медведенко}}; born 4 April 1979) is a Ukrainian former professional basketball player, who played with the Atlanta Hawks and the Los Angeles Lakers in the National Basketball Association. His position was power forward. After his basketball career ended Medvedenko embarked on a political career in Ukraine.
Early life
Professional career
Medvedenko began his professional career in 1996 in Ukraine. He played for Dandy Basket in 1996–97 and Budivelnik Kyiv in 1997–98. After a season in Lithuania with Alita Alytus in 1998–99, he returned to Ukraine to play for BC Kyiv in 1999–2000.{{cite web |title=Stanislav Medvedenko, Basketball Player, News, Stats - USbasket |url=https://basketball.usbasket.com/player/Stanislav-Medvedenko/13848 |website=Eurobasket LLC |access-date=23 October 2024}}
Medvedenko joined the Los Angeles Lakers for the 2000–01 NBA season and was a member of the Lakers' championships in 2001 and 2002.
File:Shaq at the white house.jpg at a White House ceremony following the Lakers' 2001 NBA Finals victory.]]
In the 2003–04 season, Medvedenko averaged career highs of 8.3 points and five rebounds.{{Cite web |title=Stanislav Medvedenko 2003-04 Game Log |url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/m/medvest01/gamelog/2004 |access-date=2024-12-24 |website=Basketball-Reference.com |language=en}} His contributions slipped in the playoffs, averaging only four points and 2.5 rebounds, but the Lakers liked his toughness and shooting ability. He was relied on due to injuries to Karl Malone and Horace Grant.{{cite news |last1=Bresnahan |first1=Mike |title=Lakers Take at Least One Step Forward |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2004-aug-03-sp-slava3-story.html |access-date=23 October 2024 |work=Los Angeles Times |date=3 August 2004}}
In the 2004 off-season, Medvedenko signed a new two-year deal with the Lakers. With the team now coached by Rudy Tomjanovich following the departure of Phil Jackson, Medvedenko averaged 3.8 points and played in only 43 games in the 2004–05 season.{{Cite web |title=Stanislav Medvedenko 2004-05 Game Log |url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/m/medvest01/gamelog/2005 |access-date=2025-04-20 |website=Basketball-Reference.com |language=en}} He was criticised by his teammates for shooting too often, recording only 13 assists for the season.{{cite news |last1=Bresnahan |first1=Mike |title=Lakers Will Need to Change |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2005-jun-25-sp-lakers25-story.html |access-date=23 October 2024 |work=Los Angeles Times |date=25 June 2005}}
In January 2006, Medvedenko underwent season-ending back surgery after sustaining a herniated disc in his lower back in early November 2005. He appeared in just two games in the 2005–06 season.{{Cite web |date=13 January 2006 |title=Medvedenko has back surgery, likely out for season |url=https://www.espn.com/nba/news/story?id=2290426 |access-date=7 December 2023 |website=ESPN.com|agency=Associated Press |language=en}} He was waived by the Lakers on 6 March 2006, to clear roster space for the signing of Jim Jackson.{{cite news |title=Lakers Sign Jim Jackson; Waive Forward Slava Medvedenko |url=https://www.nba.com/lakers/news/jackson_signing_060306.html |access-date=23 October 2024 |work=www.nba.com |date=6 March 2006 |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=7 March 2006 |title=Lakers sign versatile Jackson, waive Medvedenko |url=https://www.espn.com/nba/news/story?id=2357221 |access-date=7 December 2023 |website=ESPN.com|agency=Associated Press |language=en}}
On 28 December 2006, Medvedenko signed with the Atlanta Hawks for about $600,000, for the remainder of the 2006–07 NBA season.{{Cite web |last=Bresnahan |first=Mike |date=30 December 2006 |title=Loss of Odom is taking its toll |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2006-dec-30-sp-lakerep30-story.html |access-date=7 December 2023 |website=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US}}
NBA career statistics
{{NBA player statistics legend|champion=y}}
=Regular season=
{{NBA player statistics start}}
|-
| style="text-align:left;background:#afe6ba;"| {{nbay|2000}}†
| style="text-align:left;"| L.A. Lakers
| 7 || 0 || 5.6 || .480 || 1.000 || .583 || 1.3 || .3 || .1 || .1 || 4.6
|-
| style="text-align:left;background:#afe6ba;"| {{nbay|2001}}†
| style="text-align:left;"| L.A. Lakers
| 71 || 6 || 10.3 || .477 || .000 || .661 || 2.2 || .6 || .4 || .2 || 4.7
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| {{nbay|2002}}
| style="text-align:left;"| L.A. Lakers
| 58 || 10 || 10.7 || .434 || .000 || .721 || 2.4 || .3 || .2 || .1 || 4.4
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| {{nbay|2003}}
| style="text-align:left;"| L.A. Lakers
| 68 || 38 || 21.2 || .441 || .000 || .767 || 5.0 || .8 || .6 || .3 || 8.3
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| {{nbay|2004}}
| style="text-align:left;"| L.A. Lakers
| 43 || 4 || 9.8 || .455 || .000 || .821 || 1.8 || .3 || .2 || .0 || 3.8
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| {{nbay|2005}}
| style="text-align:left;"| L.A. Lakers
| 2 || 0 || 3.0 || .500 || .000 || .000 || .0 || .5 || .0 || .0 || 1.0
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| {{nbay|2006}}
| style="text-align:left;"| Atlanta
| 14 || 0 || 5.8 || .414 || .500 || .850 || 1.0 || .1 || .0 || .1 || 3.0
|- class="sortbottom"
| style="text-align:center;" colspan="2" | Career
| 263 || 58 || 12.7 || .450 || .154 || .740 || 2.8 || .5 || .3 || .2 || 5.3
{{S-end}}
=Playoffs=
{{NBA player statistics start}}
|-
| style="text-align:left;background:#afe6ba;"| 2002†
| style="text-align:left;"| L.A. Lakers
| 7 || 0 || 3.0 || .600 || .000 || .000 || .6 || .0 || .0 || .0 || .9
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| 2003
| style="text-align:left;"| L.A. Lakers
| 9 || 0 || 8.1 || .556 || .000 || .667 || 2.0 || .1 || .1 || .1 || 3.8
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| 2004
| style="text-align:left;"| L.A. Lakers
| 21 || 1 || 11.3 || .440 || .000 || .810 || 2.5 || .5 || .2 || .2 || 4.0
|- class="sortbottom"
| style="text-align:center;" colspan="2" | Career
| 37 || 1 || 8.9 || .477 || .000 || .778 || 2.0 || .3 || .1 || .1 || 3.3
{{S-end}}
Political career
Medvedenko was a candidate (number 11 on the election list) for the Kyiv City Council of the party Voice in the 2020 Kyiv local election set for 25 October 2020.{{in lang|uk}} [https://www.chesno.org/post/4226/ List of "Voices" to the Kyiv City Council: candidate for mayor - Prytula, candidates for deputies - former "self-help" and "demalyans"], Civil movement "Chesno" (21 September 2020)[https://en.interfax.com.ua/news/general/674837.html Rada appoints next elections to local self-govt bodies for Oct 25], Interfax-Ukraine (15 July 2020) The party only managed to win nine seats.{{in lang|uk}} [https://www.cvk.gov.ua/pls/vm2020/pvm057pid112=30pid102=2pf7691=2pt001f01=695rej=0pt00_t001f01=695.html Results of the 2020 elections of the Kyiv City Council], Central Election Commission of Ukraine
Military career
In 2022, Medvedenko auctioned off both his NBA championship rings and memorabilia in order to raise money for the Ukrainian military.{{Cite web |last=Harris |first=Beth |date=24 July 2022 |title=Former Laker Medvedenko auctions NBA title rings for Ukraine |url=https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/sports/national/story/2022-07-24/former-laker-medvedenko-auctions-nba-title-rings-for-ukraine |access-date=7 December 2023 |website=San Diego Union-Tribune|agency=Associated Press |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Yuccus |first=Jamie |date=2 August 2022 |title=Ex-Laker Slava Medvedenko puts NBA championship rings up for auction to help his native Ukraine |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/slava-medvedenko-ukraine-nba-championship-rings-auction/ |access-date=18 August 2022 |website=CBS News |language=en-US}} He and his wife both served in the military during Russian war against Ukraine. He was gifted two replacement championship rings in 2023 by Jeanie Buss. The ceremony was also attended by Pau Gasol and Sasha Vujacic.{{Cite web |date=24 January 2023 |title=Slava Medvedenko gets replacement championship rings from the Lakers |url=https://basketnews.com/news-184253-slava-medvedenko-gets-replacement-championship-rings-from-the-lakers.html |access-date=20 August 2023 |website=Basketnews.com |language=en}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{Basketballstats |nba= 2098 |bbr= m/medvest01 }}
- [https://www.espn.com/nba/player/_/id/543/slava-medvedenko Player profile on ESPN.com]
- [http://www.brama.com/news/press/020625medvedenko_basketball.html Interview with Medvedenko]
- [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j9VZ-JrMV5k&search=Slava%20Medvedenko Slava's First American TV Interview]
{{Los Angeles Lakers 2000-01 NBA champions}}
{{Los Angeles Lakers 2001-02 NBA champions}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Medvedenko, Slava}}
Category:21st-century Ukrainian politicians
Category:Atlanta Hawks players
Category:BC Budivelnyk players
Category:Holos (political party) politicians
Category:Los Angeles Lakers players
Category:NBA championship–winning players
Category:NBA players from Ukraine
Category:Ukrainian expatriate basketball people in the United States