Knee injuries have brought to an end the glittering career of Australia’s greatest female basketballer.
Australian basketball superstar Lauren Jackson has announced her immediate retirement from the game, with injuries ending her chances of capping her career with another Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro.
She made her announcement at the AIS in Canberra on Thursday, surrounded by her Opals team-mates.
A 6’5" (1.96 metres) forward and centre, Jackson won three Olympic silver medals (2000, 2004, 2008) and one bronze (2012) with the Opals.
The 34-year-old was also named the Most Valuable Player for the Seattle Storm in the American WNBA on three occasions and won the award in Australia’s WNBL for the Canberra Capitals four times.
“It really is so surreal retiring here where it all began 19 years ago,” Jackson said.
“Today I’m announcing my retirement from the love of my life, basketball. It took me all over the world, gave me friendships forever so thank you to everyone for being here.”
Jackson spelled out the damage she had done to her knee which eventually led to her decision.
“Two years ago I hurt my knee playing in China and it wasn’t a terrible injury but I had to have surgery,” she said.
"I pulled the meniscus out of the root of my bone and I chipped the bone. I had never had issues with my knees before, so I thought I’d be back playing pretty quickly and I didn’t think it would be a big deal and nobody did, we were told I would get back fine.
"Anyhow my knee ended up degenerating really, really fast and I got arthritis pretty quickly and since then I have had multiple surgeries trying to get back for the teams that I play with, obviously the Canberra Capitals and the Opals.
“In that time I tore my ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) in December and in January I got an infection in my knee joint, which put me back in hospital and set me back in rehab for about six weeks, which was pretty devastating.”
Jackson told reporters of her strong desire to make a fifth Olympics for Australia, but despite her disappointment said she had confidence in the team’s ability to succeed at the Games.
“I truly believe under Choc’s (Opals coach Brendan Joyce) leadership they will achieve amazing things in Rio and it breaks my heart that I can’t be there,” she said.
"But I will be supporting them in spirit and I know they are going to get gold.
“Coming into the Opals it was such an amazing experience being that young and stepping into a team of adults, who actually nurtured me,” Jackson said, namechecking former team-mates Rachel Sporn and Trish Fallon.
“They sent me letters because there was no emails or whatever but they just really supported be through everything.”
Australian coach Joyce pays tribute to Jackson’s career
“We were fortunate last night to celebrate Lauren’s career,” he said.
“Not today, but last night with the players, the current crop of Opals. We talked about her achievements … what a legacy. Lauren is one of the greats of all time, in any sport.”
Joyce acknowledged the hole Jackson would leave in Australian basketball as the Opals set themselves for another Olympics.
"I’m the unlucky coach who is not going to have her at the Olympic Games after 20 years and I know the question is going to be ‘how are you going to win without Lauren Jackson?’.
“It’s going to be tough.”
