Basketball’s GOAT Lauren Jackson may have drawn a record crowd for her tribute game at John Cain Arena, but she lasted just minutes on court before limping off with a leg injury.
Bravely opting to play through a broken foot, Saturday’s early exit was a sad outcome for Jackson and her Southside Flyers.
The 41-year-old has proven a massive drawcard for basketball fans around the country, spending hours post-game signing as many autographs as she can – all while sitting with her injured lower leg on ice in an esky.
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Jackson broke her foot back in December but played through the pain thinking it was simply arthritis.
“It‘s one of those things where I’m just going to see the season out, do what I can and then I’ll deal with it after,” she said.
“At least knowing that it is broken now, I know that it will heal eventually.
“If I had’ve found out it was broken straight away I might not have played on it. At least I know I can play on it now, and I’m getting all the support I can get.”
Despite her bravery to battle through the pain, it was an accidental knee clash in the opening stages of Saturday’s match that saw Jackson hobbled.
She came from the court after less than two minutes of game time and was later spotted on crutches as she took no further part in the contest.
“She lasted just 62 seconds before hobbling off with a leg injury. A real shame,” ESPN commentator Kane Pitman said.
Jackson has enjoyed one of the most stellar careers in basketball history, as a three-time WNBA MVP, two-time WNBA champion, and seven-time WNBA All-Star, alongside gold medallist in the 2006 Commonwealth Games and World Cup.
Saturday’s match drew a record 7681 fans to John Cain Arena – eclipsing the 7500 fans who attended the Adelaide Lightning and Melbourne Tigers WNBL grand final back in 1995.
“Being able to play a game at John Cain Arena … it’s going to be a spectacle for our sport,” Jackson said on SEN on Friday.
“It was time for something like this to happen. I am so fortunate to be part of that.”
