Former NBA hotshot Dennis Rodman is reportedly heading to Russia to free Brittney Griner – or at least he thinks he is. Griner was recently sentenced to nine years in a Russian prison for possessing cannabis oil cartridges.

Rodman, who previously took it upon himself to enter into US-North Korea politics, told NBC News on Saturday he secured permission to travel to Russia and is “trying to go this week” despite the U.S. State Department warning Americans not to travel there.

In 2014, Rodman took credit for the release of Kenneth Bae from North Korea, a nation he visited multiple times despite high tensions with the U.S. Rodman once called North Korean leader Kim Jong Un a “friend.”

The former NBA player told NBC News on Saturday that he “knows Putin well” and was confident he could negotiate with the Russian leader.

Griner has appealed the nine-year sentence a judge handed down this month.