Lauren Jackson Back-to-Back MVP Watch

STATISTICS COMPARISON

div align = "center" JACKSON LESLIE CATCHINGS TAURASI THOMPSON PPG 20.5 (1) 17.6 (3) 16.7 (5) 17.0 (4) 20.0 (2) RPG 6.7 (10) 9.9 (1) 7.3 (4) 4.4 (NR) 6.0 (13) APG 1.6 (NR) 2.6 (NR) 3.4 (14) 3.9 (10) 1.8 (NR) SPG 1.0 (NR) 1.5 (15) 2.0 (4) 1.3 (NR) 0.9 (NR) BPG 2.0 (3) 2.9 (1) 1.1 (12) 0.7 (NR) 0.9 (14) TOPG 2.2 (NR) 3.2 (2) 2.3 (NR) 2.7 (8) 2.7 (7) FG% .478 (6) .494 (3) .385 (NR) .416 (NR) .402 (NR) 3PT% .452 (3) .211 (NR) .335 (NR) .330 (NR) .407 (9) FT% .811 (18) .713 (NR) .854 (11) .760 (NR) .789 (NR) TS% .590 (*) .552 .520 .516 .507 EFF/G 20.8 (2) 22.7 (1) 19.0 (3) 15.1 (10) 15.4 (8) EFF/40 24.1 (3) 26.9 (1) 22.9 (4) 18.1 (11) 17.0 (19) EFF PTS 645 (3) 773 (1) 646 (2) 512 (7) 401 (NR)

AN MVP IS … EFFICIENT
Jackson continues to be one of the WNBA's most efficient players after leading the league in the first year of its Efficiency Rating System. Jackson is second in the league in efficiency on both a per-game and overall basis and has the second-best true shooting percentage amongst players averaging more than 15 points per game.

Jeff Reinking/WNBAE/Getty

AN MVP IS … SPECTACULAR
While consistent, Jackson has also had her share of big nights. Jackson has topped the 30-point mark three times this season, something the rest of the WNBA has done just eight times combined. Jackson is one of seven players in WNBA history to score 30 points in a game three times in a season, doing so last year as well. Three times this season, Jackson has scored at least 20 points in a half, not including 20 points after halftime (including overtime) against Washington on July 17. On July 3, she scored a franchise-record 23 points in the first half versus Sacramento. Jackson has recorded no less than three of the league’s top 13 individual games this season by the WNBA’s Efficiency Rating and is tied for the season's fourth-best game by that measure, posting a +35 rating on 7/17.

AN MVP IS … VERSATILE
As a 6-5 power forward, Jackson still finished third in the WNBA, shooting 45.2% from three-point range. While Jackson's offensive prowess is well-known, her world-class defense gets little attention. Jackson ranks third in the WNBA in blocked shots and has also done a great job shutting down her assigned offensive player. According to Storm research, Jackson's primary defensive assignment has averaged 11.8 points on 42.7% shooting against the Storm this season, as compared to a weighted season averages of 12.8 points and 43.5%.

AN MVP IS … CLUTCH
In close games, Jackson has come up big for the Storm down the stretch. On opening night against Minnesota, Jackson scored 13 straight Storm points as the team came from behind against Minnesota, the last three points, a three-point play, putting the Storm on top for the first time in the second half. Seattle would hold on to win 88-85. On consecutive Saturdays in July, Jackson saved the Storm with her defense. On July 17, Jackson was matched up one-on-one against Washington All-Star Chamique Holdsclaw with the game tied in the final seconds of overtime. Jackson blocked Holdsclaw's shot, and teammate Sue Bird recovered and went coast-to-coast to win the game with a layup. The following week against the Houston Comets, Jackson had three blocks in the final two minutes and altered Sheryl Swoopes' shot on Houston's final possession as the Storm escaped with a 67-63 win. 13 times this season, Jackson has scored double-figures in the second half alone.

AN MVP IS … A WINNER
With Jackson in the lineup, the Storm is 20-11 (.645 winning percentage) this season. Despite losing all three games Jackson missed with a right mid-foot sprain, the Storm surpassed the franchise record for wins and finished with the second-best record in the WNBA. The Storm also has the league's best point differential at +5.1 points per game. Every WNBA Championship has been won by the team with the league's best regular-season point differential.

WHERE LAUREN RANKS

2003 SEASON RECAP