GOLD COAST (Australia) - Australian hoops icon Lauren Jackson has been officially inducted to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, further cementing her stature as one of the greatest players from the Land Down Under.

Jackson, 40, is among the 16 basketball personalities enshrined in the Class of 2021 and is the first player from Australia to enter the Hall at the Springfield, Massachusetts in the United States.

Jackson was not able to attend the ceremony from Australia due to the pandemic but was grateful for “one of the greatest honors” of her life.

"This is an absolute dream come true. It's one of the greatest honors of my entire life, it's something I'm going to cherish for the rest of my life. It's so special to be enshrined as the first of many Australian basketball players,” said Jackson on the NBA website.

From Australia to the United States and even the international stage, Jackson indeed had a legendary career worthy of the Hall induction.

The Albury, New South Wales native won four WNBL MVPS, Grand Final MVPs, and five championships in the WNBL with Canberra Capitals.

She then took her act to the United States, entering the WNBA as the No. 1 overall pick for the Seattle Storm in 2001.

Jackson went on to take the WNBA by storm, winning three WNBA MVPs, two championships, Finals MVPs, Rebounding Title, and Defensive Player of the Year awards along with multiple All-Star, Mythical Team, and All-Defensive Team citations.

Her No. 15 jersey was even retired by Seattle and in 2012 became part of the WNBA Top 15 Greatest Players of All Time.

She also played in the Australia national team, leading the Opals to four Olympic silver medals, Commonwealth Games gold, and a title in the 2006 FIBA World Championships.

Jackson also had stints in Korea, Russia, Spain, and China before calling it quits after a decorated career.

In this year’s Hall, she is joined by Chris Bosh, Yolanda Griffith, Lauren Jackson, Toni Kukoc, Paul Pierce, Ben Wallace, and Chris Webber, Rick Adelman, Bill Russell, Jay Wright, Val Ackerman, Howard Garfinkel, Cotton Fitzsimmons, Bob Dandridge, Pearl Moore, and Clarence "Fats" Jenkins.

FIBA