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DALLAS -- Six years after retiring from the NBA former Jazz Center Greg Ostertag wants to play again.
Greg Ostertag will turn 39 in March.
The idea of trying to make a comeback at that age seems preposterous. That may be one reason why Greg is doing it.
"If you ask me the motivation that may be part of it; to prove them wrong" he says about those who think he's crazy. "What do I got to lose."
Ostertag hasn't played an NBA game since April 19, 2006 when he called it quits. He spent 10 of his 11 NBA seasons with the Utah Jazz, a career he describes as "a rollercoaster". Six years later Greg regrets walking away from the game and is serious about making a return.
"I just want to play," he says. "I miss it. I've missed it ever since I quit. I shouldn't have quit when I did but you can't change the past you can only control the future."
Now he hopes to make up for lost time. Ostertag is attempting to make a comeback starting in the D-League with the Texas Legends. He made his debut last Thursday night scoring 2 points and hauling in 11 rebounds in 17 minutes of play.
"I had a lot of fun," he says about his D-League debut. "Obviously my wind is not there but it will come."
Greg believes he has two good years left in him. It was clear by watching him that he is not in basketball shape but in the 17 minutes he played he did all things he was known for with the Jazz. He dominated the boards, blocked and altered shots and took a charge in the post. Now he hopes to prove he can do those things at an NBA level.
"I'll give it a good effort here for a month or so and if it doesn't pan out than it doesn't pan out," he says. "I'll get back in my truck and drive back to Arizona with a smile on my face."
