MELBOURNE (FIBA World Championship for Women) - Australian basketball icon Lauren Jackson has had surgery on a torn meniscus and a troublesome Achilles.

The all-time leading scorer in Olympic history, Jackson has been plagued by injuries the past few years but expects to return to the court in the coming months.

Jackson hurt her knee at the end of 2013 while competing for Chinese side Heilongjiang Shenda.

She has spoken about the injury and operation on her website.

Jackson wrote: "Unfortunately I suffered a knee injury in December which progressively got worse.

"Halfway through the second round, things deteriorated and I started getting very sharp pain, then the inevitable happened and I had to make a decision to stop as I could not run.

"I offered to stay and support my team mates in the playoffs, who were all such beautiful girls but the team management said I could head back to Melbourne and get it fixed.

"I jetted in on Sunday and had surgery last night (Monday).

"I'm pleased as David Young my surgeon is telling me that both operations on my Achilles and knee went well and he expects I will make a full recovery.

"My knee injury was found to be a lateral meniscus tear and was torn off the bone, which was upsetting to hear because it is a long recovery time.

"But he assures me that my joints are wonderful and he expects me to play till I'm 40."

Jackson has been a lynchpin in the Opals side since the 1998 FIBA World Championship for Women in Germany.

In 2006, she averaged 21.2 points and 8.9 rebounds to help fire the Aussies to the title at the FIBA World Championship in Brazil.

Opals coach Brendan Joyce is confident Jackson, now 32, will be in top form when the World Championship is played in Turkey.

The tournament tips off 27 September.

"Lauren has committed to the Opals preparation for this year's World Championships," Joyce said.

"She'll have some time to prepare in some games in July on a tour of Japan and then again in August.

"Dr Young was really happy with how she went; he said she could play until she's 40.

"It's a shame for her that she has this recovery period, but it's better for her to be right for the real deal at the World Championships."

Jackson was named MVP of the Women's National Basketball League in Australia in 1999, 2000, 2003 and 2004, and in the American WNBA in 2003, 2007, 2010.

FIBA