Former Utah Jazz player Greg Ostertag calls it quits - NBA Update
Thirty eight years old Greg Ostertag, who is currently representing D-league’s Texas Legends, has decided to say farewell to basketball.
His playtime since last three games was limited to just 30 minutes because of a knee injury that according to him was only getting worse with time and therefore, despite giving a solid performance just a week ago against Sioux
Falls Skyforce (10 points and 8 rebounds), he made the decision to retire.
"They've been bugging me since I came back (in late December), but I could barely move (after Reno)," Ostertag said. "I felt good there and I played good. I get out there and sometimes I do get loose, but usually the 'don'ts' are
longer than the 'dos.'”
In his 10 games career with the Legends, Greg averaged 4.3 points and 5 rebounds per game.
Greg, who also happens to be an ex NBAer, quit from the big stage after the 2005-06 season. He was only 33 at that time and still had a lot of basketball left in him, however the reason for his early retirement was the tiring and
a strict schedule of the NBA. However, later he regretted his move.
"I regret quitting when I did," Ostertag said. I was tired of everything that goes along with it, like the travel, not being able to fall asleep before 4 or 5 in the morning. I was tired of all that, but I should have kept going
for a couple more years.
After quitting from NBA, Greg had a 5 years break from the game and then finally decided to make a comeback, however this time not in NBA but the D-league. He signed with Legends on December 11th, 2011 and was hoping
to play for a much longer period, however the injuries forced him to call it quits.
Greg started his NBA career with Utah Jazz in 1995 and because of his outstanding defensive skills, which helped the team in making it to NBA finals in two straight years 1997 and 1998, his contract was extended.
Unfortunately for him, in coming years, his performances faded and therefore, after representing Jazz for 9 years, he moved to Sacramento Kings in 2004. After playing one season with the Kings, he was again traded back to Jazz
in 2005.
Greg had a reasonable season, however at the end of the season, he decided to say farewell to the NBA.
Tags: