Storm
The stars have aligned: Bird, Jackson best friends

By Jayda Evans
Seattle Times staff reporter

JIM BATES / THE SEATTLE TIMES Friends on and off the court, Sue Bird gets a hug from Lauren Jackson in a game against San Antonio this season.

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The 18-hour flight was grueling.

Flying from her home in Australia to the U.S. is one of the worst things in the world, Lauren Jackson would say later. Blurry-eyed when she arrived in Seattle, it's no wonder she mistook Adia Barnes for Sue Bird when she saw her for the first time in 2002.

In front of fans at Kirkland's Lake Washington High School, it took one move to clear it up.

"She was a little taller than I expected," said Jackson of confusing the 5-foot-11 Barnes for the 5-9 Bird. "Then I saw this little guard run down and throw up a three and I said, 'Oh, that's Sue Bird.' "

Playing in a country more known for its kangaroo hops than jump shots, Jackson didn't know a thing about Bird, the darling of Connecticut basketball, who capped an undefeated season with the NCAA women's basketball title.

And there weren't any introductions.

Both were No. 1 draft picks and regarded as their country's elite players, and everyone expected the pair to lead the then-3-year-old Storm to prominence.

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Who cared that they barely knew what the other looked like?

"Whether we liked each other or not, we had to get along because it was just us carrying the team," said Bird of that rookie season with Jackson.

Two summers later, Jackson and Bird are the poster players of how megastars can coexist. While national news is about the NBA's Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O'Neal's meltdown in Hollywood, tucked in the Pacific Northwest, Jackson and Bird are pure harmony.

All it takes is a slight rise of the brow from Jackson and instinctually the basketball floats from Bird's grasp to her for a turnaround jumper. Or, as in Saturday night's overtime win, it could be Jackson's monster block at the free-throw line that Bird bats forward to race downcourt for a dazzling backward shot.

But always after the game, the pair dances through its skit of passing the glory to the other.

	DEAN RUTZ / THE SEATTLE TIMES, 2002 Sue Bird, left, and Lauren Jackson began building a solid friendship their first season together in Seattle.

"She made the most incredible shot I've ever seen in women's basketball," said Jackson of Bird's one-handed, back-to-the-basket fling over the top of her head to seal the victory against Washington.

"Lauren's block was huge," Bird offers. "(It) was the most important part."

Not exactly what Shaq and Kobe spouted after games.

"I can't speak for men, but women have more patience, are more emotional and take into consideration the feelings of their teammates," said Storm assistant coach Jessie Kenlaw, who has been coaching women since 1987. "I'm not sure men give a hoot what their teammates think about them. But as a coach, you just hope there's good chemistry on the court.

"Lauren and Sue have that confidence and comfort level between each other. I guess a way to describe it is as magical. It didn't come automatic. They built that trust, and now it's at a point where it's perfect."

The blind faith comes from their first season together. Although younger than Bird by about seven months, Jackson entered the WNBA first and suffered through a 10-22 season. When Bird was added the following year, she said the transition was easy because Jackson provided the needed CliffsNotes.

As the losses mounted, they confided in each other. And when they sniffed a postseason berth, they pushed their team to win seven of their last nine games to steal the final Western Conference playoff spot.

	STEVE RINGMAN / THE SEATTLE TIMES Former Storm coach, Lin Dunn returned to Seattle now as an assistant coach for Indiana. She was coaching a morning session at the Sonics/Storm gym.

Both were 21 years old and shared the same burning desire to win while having fun.

"I just watched her and how she handled things ... even though she is younger," Bird said.

"She always has to say I'm younger," piped in Jackson with her thick Australian accent.

The two All-Stars laugh. They flash those same giggly smiles seen on the court after Jackson makes three consecutive three-pointers to open a game or that Bird has after an unexpected tip-in.

Only it's not just an on-court, business relationship. They will rally teammates to go bowling or karaoke-hopping in Belltown to celebrate a birthday. Other nights it's upscale dinners or cheesy movies. On road game days, Jackson sits behind Bird on the team's charter bus to share their iPod headsets, bopping to each other's music to get amped for a game despite Jackson being an eclectic fan while Bird mainly listens to hip-hop.

Yet, when Jackson invited Storm fans and teammates to her favorite pub for an after-game party in June, Bird was noticeably absent, saying, "My friends were in town and they didn't want to go — she understands."

"I've been on teams where the leaders are real cocky," said Barnes, who has played for four teams in seven WNBA seasons. "Sue and Lauren are the most down-to-earth people, you forget they're stars. They're so humble, which makes them so special."

Their humility shouldn't be mistaken for passiveness, however. Barnes and other teammates remember plenty of times where Jackson and Bird called their number out to play with more confidence. Jackson has called team meetings. They push themselves the hardest.

After the Storm missed the playoffs in 2003 by a tiebreaker with Minnesota, Jackson and Bird looked at their own play first. Sure, the team had injuries that led to losing five consecutive games, including Bird's nagging left knee. But both felt they could have done more. It was the first time Bird hadn't reached a postseason in her career. And Jackson had been in the limelight since leading Australia to its first Olympic silver medal in women's basketball at the Sydney Games, playing on the national team since age 16.

After last season, Bird, who didn't miss a game, immediately had knee surgery. As she rehabilitated her knee, she worked on her defensive game, a problem area coaches said could improve.

With five games remaining before the league-wide Olympic break in August, they have the Storm (13-7) 1½ games behind Los Angeles for the Western Conference lead. Jackson, the 6-foot-5 reigning MVP, is the league's scoring leader (20.8), and Bird is second in assists (5.6).

"This organization turned around with the addition of those two," Barnes said. "Last season was a huge disappointment. It was tough down the stretch, but they both improved tremendously and hold people accountable for their roles. They're not vocal rah-rah, but Lauren's shins are killing her and she's coming in to do individual work with coaches. Sue is always encouraging."

It's when the game or practice ends that you can tell they're both just 23. When Bird falls into a litany of "I don't knows" in response to media questions, Jackson steps in to finish her sentences. Or vice versa.

"When I came here and interviewed about the job, everybody talked about how well they got along and I said, 'Yeah, yeah, yeah, I'll see when I get here,' " second-year Storm coach Anne Donovan said. "But they really were close. The good teams have good chemistry, and it's not just when they walk out on the floor."

So what's the quirkiest thing about the other?

"Her hair," Bird said. "I like all the different styles she wears. I wish I could do that."

Bird is superstitious about her ponytail. She has a precise routine that starts at home and ends at the arena. Jackson will fidget from a bun to braids during a timeout.

"Even in a dorky headband, she still looks cool," Jackson said. "I'd do anything for her, and I know she'd do anything for me. I trust her with my life."

Blushing, Bird cradled her knees and rocked back and forth.

"Thanks, mate," she said.

Jayda Evans: 206-464-2067 or jevans@seattletimes.com

Copyright © 2004 The Seattle Times Company

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