Since Lauren Jackson was a teenager, she has been a huge symbol in women’s basketball. The Australian is less than 2 meters tall and her name has become famous in the women’s basketball world not only back home but also in South Korea, U.S and presently in Russia.
The Australian has played as a starter in a team in Moscow, and she helped the team seal the championship in a big European contest. Jackson has won a lot of money and has achieved vast admiration in Russia. However, her bigger dream is an Olympic gold medal and presently she is training to escort the Australian women’s basketball team in Beijing.
Jackson expressed that it has taken time to get use to the game in Russia. "Every experience is a life experience, and you have to take everything as it comes, but Russia is definitely a different culture than Australia," she said.
Following a short period playing for Spartak last season besides helping the team win the Russian championship, Jackson came back to Moscow around winter. Ever since, Lauren Jackson has been playing for the Spartak in the Russian and European women’s basketball tournaments, which has demanded a lot of traveling.
"I think it was last night I was sitting on the couch, we were watching a movie and I was sitting going how did I get here? How did my life get me to Russia watching this movie on this couch right now? Sore and achy but loving it. I honestly, I don't know," she claimed.
The Australian player got to Russia due to her ability and height. These past seven years, Jackson has been playing for the Seattle Storm in the WNBA. Jackson has won the WNBA’s MVP award two times. The co-worker of the Spartak, Mr von Kalmanovic stated Jackson is vital to the team's accomplishments except she does not act like it.
"No intrigues. No star-sickness. You know? She never gave an impression that she is more important or she should be treated different, she is first for practice, last going home. She doesn't play for money. I lover her... as a player as a daughter. We have relations, she calls me Papa. I call her my Australian daughter," he declared.
However; Jackson is playing for a lot of money and she expresses that it is by far more than what she could receive in U.S or Australia.
"It's so much better here I can earn... I've probably earned this season maybe what I could earned in five seasons in America, or six seasons. So it's a lot better," Jackson said.
In the Spartak Moscow they are around five different nationalities. And for the players, their result became to be a great competition on the court. When the season in Russia finishes, Jackson will leave to the US to play for the Storms in the WNBA coming season, prior to get ready to guide the Australian team to China.
The Australian team has won two silver medals in the last two Olympics, although Jackson desires the gold medal.
"I'm really excited about Beijing, I can't wait. And to lead the Opals with Penny Taylor, it's going to be great," she said.
