Dennis Rodman will go to Russia to seek release of Brittney Griner / News - Basketnews.com

The former NBA player and 5-time champion Dennis Rodman received permission to go to Russia in an attempt to bring WNBA star Brittney Griner back to the United States.

Credit: imago images/MediaPunch-Scanpix Credit imago images/MediaPunch-Scanpix

Former NBA player Dennis Rodman announced that he intends to visit Russia to seek the release of Brittney Griner, who was sentenced to nine years in prison on drug charges.

"I got permission to go to Russia to help that girl," Rodman told NBC News at a restaurant in D.C. "I'm trying to go this week."

United States president Joe Biden's office believes that the 61-year-old will bring more help rather than damage the relationship between the U.S. and Russia.

"It's public information that the administration has made a significant offerto the Russians and anything other than negotiating further through the established channel is likely to complicate and hinder release efforts," the official said.

It wouldn't be the first time when Rodman was involved in informal diplomacy, as the NBA champion established a relationship with North Korea's leader Kim Jong Un.

Rodman called Russian President Vladimir Putin "cool" after a 2014 trip to Moscow. In 2018, he showed up on the sidelines of former President Donald Trump's meeting with Kim in Singapore.

Finally, Rodman gave himself credit for helping to secure the release of American Kenneth Bae from North Korea.

Griner has been held in Moscow since February on charges of smuggling a gram of cannabis oil in her luggage when she was trying to enter Russia.

Griner arrived at the court in Khimki, in the Moscow region, for her eighth hearing on Thursday.

The player faced a sentence of up to 10 years in prison. The prosecutor has only lowered the final verdict by a year.

The 31-year-old, 2.06-meter center held up from inside her cell a photo of her teammates from the UMMC Yekaterinburg, the Russian basketball team she played for during the WNBA offseason. Numerous foreign players who have played for Russian teams, among many others, including Marta Xargay and Anna Cruz, have campaigned in support of the American.

The 31-year-old Griner apologized in her final remarks in court.

"I made an honest mistake, and I hope your ruling does not end my life," the WNBA star explained herself.

"I want to apologize to my teammates, my club, my fans, and the city of [Yekaterinburg] for my mistake and the embarrassment that I brought on them," said Griner.

"I want to also apologize to my parents, my siblings, the Phoenix Mercury organization back at home, the amazing women of the WNBA, and my amazing spouse back at home," Griner concluded.

The two-time U.S. basketball Olympic gold medalist pleaded guilty to drug charges last month in what her lawyers say was an attempt to take responsibility and receive clemency if she is ultimately found guilty and convicted.

Thank you for reading us! Help us even more.