Dennis Rodman’s U‑Turn: From “I’m Going to Russia” to “I Won’t Be Going”

A few days earlier, NBA legend Dennis Rodman—known for his bold persona and unconventional connections—announced that he planned to travel to Russia to help secure the release of Brittney Griner, the WNBA star imprisoned there. At an interview with NBC News, Rodman stated, “I got permission to go to Russia to help that girl. I’m trying to go this week,” adding that he understood Vladimir Putin well from past encounters .

However, only a few days later, Rodman told ABC News that he currently does not have any plans to go to Russia, reversing his earlier public proclamation . This shift came after the U.S. State Department issued a stern advisory: Rodman would not be traveling on behalf of the U.S. government, and officials warned that any unsanctioned effort outside official diplomatic channels could complicate and hinder ongoing negotiations for Griner’s release .

The Brittney Griner Case: From Arrest to Diplomatic Negotiations

Brittney Griner, an American WNBA star who also played in Russia for UMMC Ekaterinburg, was arrested in Moscow’s Sheremetyevo Airport on February 17, 2022, after hash oil cartridges—illegal in Russia—were discovered in her luggage. She claimed they were accidentally packed and intended for medical use in Arizona .

On August 4, 2022, a Russian court sentenced her to nine years in prison. Many U.S. officials called Griner’s imprisonment politically motivated, and the U.S. government formally declared her “wrongfully detained”, initiating official negotiations with Russia for a prisoner swap—potentially exchanging her for convicted arms dealer Viktor Bout and fellow detainee Paul Whelan .

Ultimately, in December 2022, Griner returned to the U.S. as part of an exchange deal finalized in Abu Dhabi: Viktor Bout was sent back to Russia in return for Brittney Griner’s freedom after approximately ten months in detention .

Why Rodman First Announced a Trip—Then Scrapped It

1. Initial Enthusiasm

Rodman, five-time NBA champion and self-styled “unofficial ambassador,” has a history of unconventional diplomacy—most famously with Kim Jong Un in North Korea. In August 2022, he confidently stated to NBC News that he had permission to visit Russia and help Griner, asserting “I know Putin too well” from prior encounters .

2. U.S. Government Pushback

Meanwhile, the U.S. State Department reiterated its Level‑4 “Do Not Travel” advisory for Russia due to the conflict in Ukraine and risks faced by American citizens there. Ned Price, the spokesperson, emphasized:

A trip by Rodman would not have official U.S. endorsement.

Any attempt outside formal diplomatic channels could undermine the ongoing, sensitive negotiations between U.S. and Russian officials .

A senior administration official echoed that the U.S. had made a “significant offer” to Russia for Griner’s release, and unofficial efforts like Rodman’s could interfere .

3. Rodman’s Reversal

Facing mounting scrutiny and clear messaging from U.S. officials that his involvement might be counterproductive, Rodman publicly retracted his plan. He confirmed to ABC News that he no longer intended to make the trip—just days after his earlier claims .

Summary Timeline

Date / Period
Event

Late August 2022
Rodman tells NBC: “I got permission… I’m trying to go this week.”

Aug 23, 2022
U.S. State Department criticizes plan, calls Rodman an unofficial actor and warns his involvement may backfire

Aug 25, 2022
Rodman confirms via ABC News: he is not planning the Russia trip anymore

Analysis: Official vs. Unofficial Diplomacy

Official channels: The U.S. pursued diplomatic talks in private and reportedly offered a prisoner swap deal. The administration warned that any unsanctioned public drama, like Rodman’s, was unlikely to help and might derail fragile progress .

Unofficial diplomacy: Rodman has a pattern of stepping into geopolitics in unconventional ways. His relationship with Kim Jong Un, and even prior mentions of Vladimir Putin, reflect this style—but those connections didn’t translate into influence in Russia’s official process.

Ultimately, this episode highlights a classic tension: the power—and danger—of personal activism in high-stakes international affairs, especially when it steps outside formal protocols.

Conclusion

Dennis Rodman’s brief plan to personally travel to Russia to help free Brittney Griner created a media spectacle. He publicly claimed to have permission and intended to go within the week—only to reverse course days later after the U.S. government distanced itself from his initiative.

Though his intentions may have been sincere, the U.S. administration firmly signaled that such actions must go through established diplomatic processes—in this case, negotiations that eventually secured Griner’s release via a prisoner swap in December 2022. Rodman ultimately did not contribute substantively to that resolution.

If you’d like to dig deeper—on the political implications of such unofficial interventions, media reactions, or the personal impact on Griner and her family—I’d be glad to help expand those sections further.

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