LeBron James, Kobe Bryant and Kevin Durant are three of basketball's biggest names and fierce competitors, but the NBA stars all agree on one thing: Lauren Jackson is one of the greatest players in history.
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Jackson, 34, retired on Thursday after making the gut-wrenching decision to draw the curtain on a career that has seen her conquer almost everything in the international game.
She said doctors told her last week there was "no way" she would be fit to play at the Rio Olympic Games later this year, and when they said that: "I broke down in tears."
It ends one of the greatest sporting careers of any Australian female athlete and arguably the country's best basketballer.
James, Bryant and Durant spoke to Fairfax Media at the London Olympics in 2012 when Jackson was Australia's flag-bearer for the opening ceremony, adamant she had created a legacy that would stand the test of time.
James even described her as similar to NBA most valuable player and championship winner Dirk Nowitzki.
"She is close to the top," James said when asked where Jackson rated in women's basketball history.
"There are all these great players around her, but Lauren Jackson is definitely up there.
"She's won a WNBA championship with a great team in Seattle, she's really good.
"She reminds me of Dirk in our league, someone who is taller than everyone else but has the shooting ability of a point guard or shooting guard … I think it's awesome [she's carrying the flag]."
Bryant rated Jackson in the top three female players in history.
"Everyone I talk to has her in the top three - and I mean everyone. I've got so much respect for [Jackson]," Bryant said.
"I think it is a tremendous honour for her, she's been doing it for a number of years and it's a sign of respect for the way she's done it and conducted herself and I'm very happy for her."
Former Australian Opals coach Jan Stirling said Jackson broke down barriers of race and gender to be regarded as the world's best.
At her peak she commanded contracts worth more than $1 million per season. She's won titles and MVP awards in Australia, Europe, the United States and Asia.
Jackson said basketball had been "the love of my life" and Opals coach Brendan Joyce said: "You can't replace the greats" ahead of Australia's first Olympic campaign without Jackson since 1996.
Oklahoma City Thunder star Durant described Jackson as "amazing to watch" - not a bad compliment from one of the highest-profile players in the world's toughest league.
"She is right at the top, she is an unbelievable player and versatile so that she can do just about everything on the court," Durant said.
"It's amazing to watch her … our women's team is pretty good, but anything can happen in these Olympics, so hopefully our women's team stays strong and they're looking good now."
