Diamonds gifts, flying in private jets and being shadowed by men in trench coats: Basketball superstar Lauren Jackson on what it was like playing for a team owned by an ex-KGB spy - before he was assassinated in a Moscow drive-by

 When popular Australian basketball player Lauren Jackson (left, centre and top right) joined Spartak Moscow, owned by Shabtai von Kalmanovic (together mein and bottom right), her life would never be the same. An ex-KGB spy turned businessman who had a passion for basketball and the best things in life, Von Kalmanovic was a very different kind of team owner. From 2007 to 2009 Jackson played for his Spartak team on a multi-million dollar contract where she and Von Kalmanovic proved to be a successful double act. However, the 33-year-old gradually lost her way as the controlling Von Kalmanovic used his power to dominate her life. After the Russian millionaire was assassinated in 2009 she moved on with her life. Now Jackson hopes to recover from injury and play for Australia in next year's Rio Olympics.