Why Lauren Jackson is the Best

Lauren Elizabeth Jackson is an Australian professional basketball player. Jackson began her professional career at the Australian Institute of Sport in the WNBL before moving on to the Canberra Capitals. She is currently a forward/centre with the Seattle Storm of the WNBA and the Australian national team The Opals. She has won national championships in the U.S., Australia, and Russia, as well as a World Championship.

WNBA's Seattle Storm  – No. 15

Forward/Centre

Albury, New South Wales, Australia

Nationality: Australian

Height: 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)

Weight: 187 lb (85 kg)

Draft 1^st overall, 2001

Seattle Storm WNBA career 2001–present

Awards and Honors

• WNBL MVP (1999, 2000, 2004)
• WNBL Grand Final MVP (2006)
• WNBL All-Star (1999-2004)
• WNBA Champion (2004, 2010)
• WNBA MVP (2003, 2007, 2010)
• WNBA Finals MVP (2010)
• All-WNBA First Team (2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007)
• Seven-time WNBA All-Star (2001, 2002, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009)
• Best WNBA Player ESPY (2004, 2005, 2008)
• WNBA's All-Decade Team (2006)
• Women's Korea Basketball League MVP (2007)

Lauren Jackson was born to Maree and Gary Jackson. Her brother, Ross, came along a year later. Lauren’s mother, who stands 6-2, played basketball for the Opals, Australia’s national women’s team, beginning in 1974. She starred for Louisiana State University from 1976 to 1978, returning Down Under each year to join the Opals. Maree was so dominant a center during the late 1970s and early 80s that she was called the female Wilt Chamberlain.

Lauren’s father, three inches taller than his wife, owned a laser-like jumper and also played for Australia’s national team (the men go by the nickname “Boomers”), though he was never a big star. His favorite player was Chamberlain, too. Both parents coached youth teams in New South Wales province during Lauren’s childhood.

Lauren went on her first hoops road trip at two weeks and was holding a tiny basketball at four weeks. At two years, she was guaranteeing Australia would win Olympic gold with her help. At four years, she already looked comfortable on the court—and under the bleachers, where she spent countless hours exploring (and napping) while her parents practiced for, played in, and later coached in national tournaments.

• Lauren began dunking during her first season in Canberra she was 18. Thanks to a combination of knee, shin and foot injuries, she doubts she could dunk in a WNBA game.

• Lauren wears number 15 in honor of her mom, who wore the same number when she payed. Her mother, who went by Maree Bennie before meeting Lauren’s dad, still holds several SEC records, including season marks for rebounds and points, and for career scoring average.

• Lauren scored 15 or more in 27 straight games in 2003, falling two short of Cynthia Cooper’s league record.

• After the 2003 season, Lauren accepted $220,000 to play for a Russian team for one tournament series.

• The Storm’s 2004 WNBA championship marked the first time in 25 years a Seattle team had won a pro sports title.

• Lauren was the WNBA’s first international MVP, as well as its youngest MVP.

• Australians love to give nicknames. When Lauren became an international star, fans dubbed her “Loz.”

• Lauren’s favorite actor is Sean Connery. Her favorite athlete is Muhammad Ali. She has a crush on Heath Ledger.

• The Chinese character tattooed on Lauren’s midriff means “to excel.”

• Before Lauren came along, Australia’s basketball darling was Andrew Gaze, who starred in college for Seton Hall and played a handful of games in the NBA. The country’s most successful NBA player was center Luc Longley, a member of the world champion Chicago Bulls in the 1990s.

• Despite being very sharp and highly analytical, Lauren admits to having been a lousy student at AIS—an odd admission for a self-professed perfectionist. She couldn’t wait for classes to end and basketball to begin, and left school as soon as she was able to. Her brother, Ross, was just the opposite. A nice 6-8 player, he chose to focus on his education and was a superb student.

• Lauren is convinced that if she ever gets a chance to compete on "Survivor,: she would win.

• In 1999, Lauren’s father announced he could no longer play basketball because      of a bad knee. Lauren is suspicious of the timing. She had never beaten him one-on-one, but was getting uncomfortably close.

• In December of 2000, Lauren purchased her own home, in Canberra.

• It takes 20 hours for Lauren to fly between Seattle and Canberra.
  Lauren has a cat named Spotsie.

• Lauren says her greatest frustration living in the United States is that it can be difficult to find Fanta orange soda.

• Lauren’s favorite foods are Tandoori Chicken, Vegemite spread and Violet Crumble candy.

“Lauren Jackson is an alien. I don’t know what planet she comes from, but she is that good.”
—All-Time great Nancy Lieberman

“There is not a better player in the league.”
—Storm coach Anne Donovan

“She has no known weaknesses in her game.”
—WNBA coach Van Chancellor

“When you pay money to see her play, you say, 'That was value for money.’ You see her sweat a lot and swear a lot.”
—WNBL coach Carrie Graf

“Her mobility and outside game are phenomenal.”
—Australian Hoops Legend Michele Timms

“She has one of the quickest first steps I’ve ever seen.”
—All-Time great Cynthia Cooper

“When she is on fire you really want to feed her, because she is like a machine.”
—Storm teammate Sue Bird

(Source: JOCKBIO) 

(Source: WIKIPEDIA)