The GOAT Lauren Jackson’s perfectly timed rebuild and return to the Opals

It took four screws and two titanium plates to rebuild the legend that is Lauren Jackson, and in turn, it has rebuilt the culture of the Opals, as they fight for a podium return in Paris.

Five time Olympian Australian Basketballer Lauren Jackson. Picture: Instagram

Four screws and two titanium plates have rebuilt a sporting legend and the Olympic dreams of the Australian women’s basketball team.

Lauren Jackson’s decision to have major knee surgery and go through months of painful rehab did more than reignite her stellar career.

Jackson’s return to the hardwood boards that she ruled for more than a decade has helped the Opals culture bounce back after Liz Cambage walked out on the team just days before the Tokyo Olympics.

A degenerative knee injury forced Jackson to retire in 2016 at the age of 35 – and at that point she had given up playing basketball again.

The life of regular painkillers became too difficult to bear and the GOAT of Australian basketball was left with no choice but to hang up the sneakers.

Just when Jackson was ready to call it quits, she opted to have major knee surgery in a bid to reignite her stellar career.

Jackson retired in 2016 due to her knee issue. Picture: Kelly Defina/Getty Images

The successful half-knee replacement surgery, which included four screws and titanium plates being inserted into her knee, gave the legendary centre confidence she could prolong her career.

Jackson wasn’t wrong.

She returned to hoops via her beloved Albury Bandits before joining the Opals squad for the 2022 World Cup in Sydney.

Jackson’s timing was impeccable.

She rejoined the Australian program when it had reached rock bottom after Cambage physically and verbally abused the Nigerian national team in a private scrimmage in Las Vegas and derailed the Opals’ Tokyo campaign.

Olympic debutant Jade Melbourne, who was born in 2002 when “LJ” had already racked up two professional seasons and the Sydney 2000 Games, believes Jackson’s influence on the team can’t be overstated.

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“Lauren has restored the Opals culture,” she said. “Tokyo didn’t go to plan, but everyone came in and wanted to change that chapter.

“We had the 2022 World Cup where we started to build the culture and it has been a really cool journey.

“I came in 2021 and I’ve seen the culture be built from the ground up. “Adding LJ is unbelievable. She has been in the program for so long. She has helped us shape our identity into what it is today.”

An X-ray of Lauren Jackson's half knee replacement.

Jackson not only helped to rebuild the respected Australian women’s basketball culture, she excelled at the 2022 World Cup in Sydney, highlighted by her 30-point game to help the Opals defeat Canada to claim bronze.

She declared she was walking away from international basketball after the Cup, but she later came out of retirement.

Now aged 43, Jackson has entered her fifth Olympic campaign in Paris as the oldest basketball player (men or women) to feature at the Games. Her appearance in France comes 12 years after her previous Olympic appearance in London in 2012.

It’s a monumental achievement and sacrifice that hasn’t been lost on her teammates.

Jackson said her half knee replacement “looks a bit different now”, largely due to the hours of hard work to keep her ageing body in shape.

She also joined a medicinal cannabis trial in 2021, which has played a vital role in her recovery.

Now according to Melbourne – and Jackson herself – the great of Australian hoops is in prime condition.

Lauren Jackson with her son Harry. Picture: Michael Klein

“LJ is in probably the best shape of her life right now, which is crazy,” Melbourne said. “She says she could have been the best player in the world if she looked after herself when she was younger.

“I told her: you were the best player in the world.

“The sacrifices that she has made – and she has got two young boys as well.

“To come back from all the knee surgeries that she has had and still play a massive part – it’s amazing and that is why she is the GOAT.”

Jackson has her two beloved boys – Harry (7) and Lenny (5) in the stands with her in Lille.

The family affair making her return to the Olympic stage even more special.

Opals guard Kristy Wallace said she was in awe of Jackson – on-and-off the court.

“It’s incredible – LJ is so inspiring,” Wallace said. “To have kids, injuries and the career that she has had and to come back and give this Opals team another spark is pretty impressive.

“We have a great culture regardless, but bringing LJ back boosts it to another level. She is a massive asset for us.”

Originally published as The GOAT Lauren Jackson’s perfectly timed rebuild and return to the Opals