Lauren Aims Higher Still - And Pain Will Not Block Her

Sun Herald

Sunday July 16, 2006

By BILL BAXTER

WHEN Lauren Jackson was 12 years old she felt a cramping sensation in her lower leg after a game of basketball. Now she's 25, the dull ache has developed into an outright pain - and it threatens to derail her career.

"It's kind of like someone is stabbing you with a knife at one point in your shin," Jackson said.

But Australia's greatest basketballer is not quite ready to pack in the game she dominates. She is prepared to play with the pain until she achieves some lofty goals.

"I want to be the best, ultimately, and to leave the same legacy as the great American players like Sheryl Swoopes and Lisa Leslie," she said.

"I'm getting there, but only because of the people I've had around me who have taught me.

"I've had Robyn Maher and Michele Timms and Shelley Gorman and they've taught me so much about basketball but even more about life. I've been very fortunate."

Jackson has been blessed with more than good fortune. She has won a Commonwealth Games gold medal, two Olympic Games silver medals, she was the most valuable player in the WNBA in 2004 and a four-time MVP in Australia's WNBL - and this year she was named to the WNBA's All-Decade Team.

At the halfway point of the season, the Seattle Storm forward has surpassed her WNBA career averages in points, rebounds, steals, assists and shooting percentage while spending less time on the court.

Nobody shoots the ball more accurately - she scores in 57 per cent of her attempts.

She was one of two foreigners to start in the WNBA All-Star Game, in New York on Thursday.

Despite her incredible talent, Jackson is grounded and humble. When asked whether she travels first class she replied: "Hell no. Are you kidding? I flew to America on a middle seat in economy on a normal Qantas flight - not even an exit row - and I was between two big guys, but they were great guys so it was cool."

On court, 196 centimetre Jackson's humility disappears.

Even her best mate, Australian Opal and Canberra Capital Tully Bevilaqua - the 170cm starting point guard for the Indiana Fever - isn't safe, as was evident when they faced off on Monday.

"I hate playing against my friends because I am such a competitor," Jackson said.

"At one point I accidentally elbowed her really badly in the face and I felt bad. I was so sorry.

"We both had midnight flights out of Seattle. She was going to Miami and I was flying to New York so we had about an hour and a half at my place and she helped me pack.

"It was awesome to see her. She's still my best friend."

Those shared moments with friends mean a lot to Jackson, especially as she has no special friend in residence at her one-bedroom apartment in Queen Anne, a hillside suburb in Seattle with water and city views.

"The trials and tribulations of no love," Jackson said. "It's ridiculous really, but I try not to think about it because it's depressing.

"No, that's not true. It's all good. I'm all good."

Jackson says much of her life is devoted to basketball. "People ask me what I do in my spare time and I say, 'What spare time?'

"I'll get up at 8 o'clock. I'm in the gym by 8.30. We have training from 10 till 1 and then I either do a pool session or a workout and I'm home around 4 and have four hours before I'm crashing.

"Most days I'll come home and do housework or cook dinner or just sleep and I'm in bed by about 8.30. That's my life."