BASKETBALL superstar Lauren Jackson is clearly loving life right now.
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The Opals captain has enjoyed an extended stay in Australia over the past five months while playing with the Canberra Capitals and admitted she didn’t want to leave her family and friends but at the same time, was looking forward to a fresh season with the Seattle Storm.
Speaking after watching the Albury-Wodonga Bandits narrowly lose to Canberra on Saturday night, Jackson said she felt “spoiled” after spending so much time with her family following the upheaval that engulfed her when her Russian team owner was murdered last November.
“I’ve been back in Albury since Thursday just catching up with everyone and it’s always nice to be home,” Jackson said.
“I’ve got Opals camp coming up and then back to Seattle on May 1 and back into the swing of things.
“I’m looking forward to the WNBA, I feel like I’ve been a bit spoiled, I’ve been home and having the time of my life, I’ve really missed being home and I don’t want to leave at all but I am looking forward to getting back to Seattle.
“I just feel fit and I feel very strong at the moment, I don’t know that I’ve ever felt this strong in my career before.
“I’m really relaxed, I really couldn’t be happier, after what happened in Russia, when you’re around your family and friends it makes everything a hell of a lot easier.”
Jackson — a two-time WNBA MVP — admitted she had given almost no thought to the Opals’ World Championships campaign in the Czech Republic, starting in late September, simply because her hectic schedule only allowed a narrow focus.
“I haven’t really thought about it (the World Championships) at all,” Jackson said.
“It’s difficult because, when you’re in the position I’m in, you have to focus on what’s dead ahead and even the WNBA is so hard to look at because we’ve got a six-day Opals camp first.
“I’ve never had one of those with the Australian team before so that will be interesting.
“I’m looking forward to it though, it should be great, but I’ve never done a six-day camp before, it will be fun but at the same time, it’s a grind, you get in and get it done.
“I’ve never worked with Graffie (Opals coach Carrie Graf) in the Australian team so that should be interesting too.”
Bandits gunned down — page 34
