For a few years, Australian hoops legend Lauren Jackson expertly juggled running a pick and roll with running a family as a mother of two kids who happened to play pro basketball.
SINGAPORE – Lauren Jackson is one of the most decorated Australian athletes of all time and perhaps the greatest basketball player to have come from Down Under. She’s a multiple Olympic medalist, World Cup gold medalist, two-time Olympic champion, and Naismith Memorial Hall of Famer.
One of her biggest achievements, though, is being a mother to two kids while continuing to play professional basketball, which she did for three years from 2022, albeit not at the level she played at when she was collecting awards left and right.
Still, it was quite the challenge for Lauren, being away from her young children while traveling from city to city in Australia’s NBL1 East.
“I didn’t actually come back to play at the level I did,” Lauren told The GAME in an exclusive interview shortly after the opening ceremonies of the NBA Rising Stars Invitational 2025 here.
“It kind of just happened organically, and I can tell you that every step of the way, I never thought it would go any further. I thought something would happen, my knee would give out. But it took me back to amazing things, which was incredible, but it was really hard. It was really hard with the kids and being away from the kids. Yeah, it was difficult.
“But it was only three years, and it’s done now, and now I get to travel with them and be with them all the time. So they’re sick of me now. They missed me when I was gone, and now they’re not that happy,” she said jokingly.
One advantage, though, of her decision to return to playing recently was that her children finally got to see her play in a competitive setting.
“It’s beautiful. I’m so glad that I had that opportunity to play at that level in front of them and they’ve been able to travel, but I’m glad it’s done.”
To be fair, Lauren Jackson isn’t the first professional basketball player to combine motherhood with a playing career. There are several such players right now in the WNBA, and while she acknowledges that she was in a good situation with her clubs’ support of her mommy duties, it’s her hope that this will soon become the norm rather than the exception.
“I think that it’s great that there’s awareness now around working moms who are playing basketball, and I think the fact that we still do have to work and play and, you know, have kids,” she said. “But the thing is, in Australia, I was really lucky to have the support I did from Basketball Australia and, you know, my sponsors and the people that really, like my clubs, Southside Flyers and Jayco, they were remarkable. They let me travel with the kids everywhere, and I couldn’t have done it without their support.
“So the onus is on the clubs to support parents going through things like that because otherwise it would be impossible.”
Speaking of kids, Lauren believes that tournaments like the NBA Rising Stars Invitational are a step in the right direction for youth basketball development, especially in the Asia-Pacific region.
“I think having a tournament that brings so many kids from around the Asia-Pacific like this, it’s building pathways for kids to be seen. And I think that’s what we haven’t traditionally had. This tournament, it’s so exciting because these kids are being exposed to once in a lifetime NBA Rising Stars Invitational. It’s just such a special occasion for them and something that they’ll never forget.
“I think particularly for girls, there’s just such a big drop off between the ages of 15 and 18. They drop out of the sport, and they’re lost to the sport. And I feel like having opportunities like this through high school is going to keep them engaged in the sport. And for kids, too, they’re making friendships and lifelong friendships that will take them throughout.
“It’s incredible, and I wish that something like this would have been around when I was a kid.”
The WNBA today is vastly different from when Lauren Jackson was the league’s top player, and as one of the stars during its formative years, she’s extremely pleased with where it is now.
“Yeah, it’s such a wonderful time, women’s basketball at the moment. I think social media has definitely given all the girls platforms that they’d never had before, and people are starting to see the girls for who they are and what they stand for. And I think the social justice movement really sort of propelled that league into amazing growth.
“And then obviously with the young stars coming through, there’s been more eyeballs and visibility on it than ever before. So it’s a really special time for the game, and yeah, it’s incredible.”
Game recognizes game, of course, and Lauren says she sees nothing but greatness for Caitlin Clark.
“Oh, look, I think she has the potential to be one of the greats. There’s no doubt in my mind. I love the way that she plays and the passion that she plays with.
“I had the luxury of playing with the best point guard that’s ever played the game in Sue Bird for a lot of years. So I sort of know what it takes. I’ve seen her in action for many years, but watching Caitlin, when she’s on, too, she’s unstoppable, and it’s a lot of fun to watch. So I can’t wait to sort of see her develop, and I just love how much passion she plays with.
“She’s got no fear, and I just think that’s so incredible.”
Images from NBA Rising Stars Invitational