Five-time NBA champion and Basketball Hall of Fame forward Dennis Rodman said he plans to visit Russia to advocate for Brittney Griner.
The WNBA star was arrested on Feb. 17 for bringing less than one gram of cannabis into the country. Earlier this month, on Aug. 4, Griner received a nine-year Russian prison sentence on drug charges.
While there is a chance Griner could come home sooner if Russia and the United States agree to negotiations for a prisoner swap, Rodman wants to take matters into his own hands.
Here is the latest update on the developing story (via NBC News):
“Former NBA player Dennis Rodman said Saturday that he plans to visit Russia to seek the release of Brittney Griner, the WNBA star who was sentenced to nine years in prison on drug charges earlier this month.
‘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.'”
The U.S. government, however, may not actually want Rodman to do this:
“He is more likely to hurt than help, said a senior Biden administration official.
‘It’s public information that the administration has made a significant offer to the Russians and anything other than negotiating further through the established channel is likely to complicate and hinder release efforts,’ said the official.”
A hostage negotiator told Insider that Rodman’s proposed visit is a “terrible idea” and one that could potentially put the former NBA player in danger. The U.S. Department of State has issued a strong advisory to not travel to Russia.
Rodman, however, likely believes otherwise. He described Putin as “cool” after he took a trip to Moscow in 2014.
He has also maintained a friendship with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.
