Milwaukee Bucks react to Brittney Griner's release from Russian prison

Brittney Griner was released from Russian detention last week and some members of the Milwaukee Bucks have begun giving their reactions on the WNBA star's release.

Griner was convicted Aug. 4 and sentenced to nine years in prison after police said they found vape canisters containing cannabis oil in her luggage in February at Moscow’s Sheremetyevo Airport.

On Thursday, Griner was released from a Russian penal colony into United States custody after a prisoner exchange for arms dealer Viktor Bout.

The next day, the Bucks played the Dallas Mavericks in Texas. The game was the first opportunity for players to talk to the media while Griner's release was still top of mind.

According to a report from the official site of the Dallas Mavericks — Mavs.com, center Brook Lopez, head coach Mike Budenholzer, and forwards Bobby Portis and Khris Middleton shared some thoughts while in Dallas Friday.

"Going through her trial, detention, and her being sent to the penal colony, it sounds like something out of a movie," Lopez said. "But for her to be really going through it, it’s unbelievable how strong she’s been through all this.

"The whole thing did seem surreal to an extent, but it seems surreal when they said she finally got released and she was coming back home."

After spending 10 months in a Russian prison, Griner spent 18 hours on a flight back to the United States. Government officials on the flight said she was thrilled to see people who spoke English and proceeded to shake hands with every member of the flight crew.

"To see her get off that plane, it was definitely a great moment," Lopez said. "It definitely made me happy.

"I can’t imagine how happy her loved ones, her family and her teammates are feeling right now."

Middleton said he leaned on religion in hopes of getting Griner released. "I pray for her," Middleton said. "I hope she’s doing alright. I know she’s been through a lot this last year.

"It pretty much seems like an impossible situation to get out of. Somehow she got out, so I’m definitely happy for her and I hope she’s on the road to recovery because I know she’s been through a lot over this last year."

For Portis, Griner's release is "a great day for the sports world."

"I’m happy to see her home. It’s been since February or March since she’s been home, since we’ve been able to see her and her being able to be around her family and to be back on U.S. soil again.

"Obviously, we’re appreciative of that. I don’t know what it feels like to be in jail for not even 24 hours — especially in another country."

U.S. officials, including President Joe Biden, repeatedly stated that the federal government was working on her release. Many spoke out, including fellow athletes and celebrities, but maybe no one was more focused on her release than her wife, Cherelle Griner.

According to a report from ESPN, U.S. officials coordinated a spot for Griner and Cherelle to have a moment without being spotted by the media, which they successfully pulled off.

"I’m very, very happy for Brittney Griner (and) her family," Budenholzer said. “It’s a great thing for her (and) for our country.

"I know it’s not easy for anybody, but for Brittney and her family, (I) couldn’t be happier and hope that anybody who’s in a similar situation can be brought home and not be put through what she and others are going through in a similar situation."

It's unclear if and when Griner will return to basketball. She recently returned to workouts and was thrilled to see she could still dunk after not playing basketball for 10 months, her agent Lindsay Kagawa Colas said, adding she hasn't made a decision on returning to the game.

According to Colas, Griner declined her lawyers' offer to bring her a basketball while detained, saying she wasn't ready to think about the game. Griner is highly regarded as one of the greatest women basketball players of all-time, having been named to the WNBA's 25th Anniversary Team, which consists of the 25 greatest WNBA players according to the league.

Contact Drake Bentley at (414) 391-5647 or DBentley1@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter at @DrakeBentleyMJS. 

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This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Milwaukee Bucks react to Brittney Griner's release