Greg Ostertag

Last updated

Greg Ostertag
Personal information
Born (1973-03-06) March 6, 1973 (age 51)
Dallas, Texas, U.S.
Listed height7 ft 2 in (2.18 m)
Listed weight280 lb (127 kg)
Career information
High school Duncanville (Duncanville, Texas)
College Kansas (1991–1995)
NBA draft 1995: 1st round, 28th overall pick
Selected by the Utah Jazz
Playing career1995–2006, 2011–2012
Position Center
Number00, 39
Career history
1995–2004 Utah Jazz
2004–2005 Sacramento Kings
2005–2006 Utah Jazz
2011–2012 Texas Legends
Career statistics
Points 3,512 (4.6 ppg)
Rebounds 4,145 (5.5 rpg)
Blocks 1,293 (1.7 bpg)
Stats at NBA.com  OOjs UI icon edit-ltr-progressive.svg
Stats at Basketball Reference   OOjs UI icon edit-ltr-progressive.svg

Gregory Donovan Ostertag (born March 6, 1973) is an American former professional basketball player. He spent most of his career with the Utah Jazz of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played college basketball at the University of Kansas.

Contents

High school career

Ostertag starred at Duncanville High School in Duncanville, Texas, a suburb of Dallas. He averaged 22.5 points and 13 rebounds per game during his senior season, [1] and capped the year by leading the Panthers to the 1991 state championship, the first-ever for the school's boys basketball team.

College career

After his successful high school career, Ostertag joined the basketball team at the University of Kansas. Standing 7 ft 2 in (2.18 m) and weighing 280 lb (130 kg), Ostertag provided a strong presence in the paint, helping the Jayhawks reach the NCAA Final Four in 1993. Statistically, his best season was his junior year (1993–94), when he averaged 10.3 points and 8.8 rebounds per game. Most impressive, he set a school record by blocking 97 shots that year. He graduated in 1995 with career totals of 968 points and 770 rebounds, along with 258 blocked shots — the highest total in the history of Kansas and the Big 8 Conference at that time (since surpassed by Jeff Withey).

Professional career

Utah Jazz (1995–2004)

The Utah Jazz selected Ostertag with the 28th pick in the first round of the 1995 NBA draft. The Jazz hoped he could fill a void in the team's defense created by the retirement of Mark Eaton a few seasons earlier. Ostertag saw limited action in his rookie year, but emerged as Utah's starting center during his second season. The Jazz made back-to-back appearances in the NBA Finals in 1997 and 1998, with Ostertag providing strong defense in the playoffs against the likes of Hakeem Olajuwon, David Robinson, Tim Duncan, and Shaquille O'Neal. [2]

Envisioning him as a potentially dominant defender in the future, the Jazz signed Ostertag to a long-term contract extension worth $39 million over six years. However, throughout the remainder of his career, Ostertag struggled with poor physical conditioning and inconsistent play, much to the chagrin of his coaches and teammates. Also, he constantly frustrated Jazz fans with his clumsiness and lack of skill on offense. Nevertheless, Ostertag made valuable contributions to the team on the defensive side of the floor, providing size and intimidation in the paint. He never played full starter-level minutes, thus hindering his overall statistical totals, but he was one of the most efficient shot-blockers in the league during his career. He led the NBA in blocked shot percentage twice (in 2000 and 2002) [3] and was particularly good at gaining possession of the ball after blocking a shot. [4]

Sacramento Kings (2004–2005)

Ostertag's contract expired in 2004, making him a free agent in the league. After nine seasons in Utah, he joined the Sacramento Kings.

Return to Utah (2005–2006)

Ostertag played one year in Sacramento, before the Kings sent him back to Utah in a "mega-trade" that involved five teams and 13 players — the largest trade in NBA history. [5] Ostertag played one final season (2005–06) with the Jazz, seeing limited action. He played his final game on April 19, 2006, a home contest against the Golden State Warriors. Having previously announced his retirement, and that game being the last of the season, Ostertag received a standing ovation from Jazz fans. [6] He played 3:36 in the game, all in the first quarter. Fittingly, he blocked a shot and grabbed a rebound — and missed two free throws. The Jazz won the game, giving the team a final record of 41–41 for the year, ensuring that Ostertag retired having never played for a losing team for his entire NBA career.

Texas Legends (2011–2012)

In December 2011, Ostertag returned to professional basketball. He signed with the Texas Legends of the NBA Development League. [7] However, after playing 10 games with the Legends, he ended his comeback due to knee injury. [8]

Off the court

In 2002, Ostertag donated a kidney to save the life of his sister Amy (Hall) Ostertag, who was dying of complications from type 1 diabetes; upon his return he became the first player in NBA history to play after donating an organ. [9] He has since been an advocate of organ donation.

Ostertag lives on a small cattle farm in Mount Vernon, Texas with his wife Shannon. They have one child, daughter Charlestynn (born 2013). Ostertag also has three children from a previous marriage, son Cody (born 1993), daughter Bailey (born 1997), and daughter Shelby (born 1999).

Ostertag is the co-founder of The Ostertag Group, [10] an umbrella company that owns and operates Tag's Hometown Bar & Grill [11] and Ostertag Construction. Ostertag is also a licensed Realtor with Century 21 Harvey Properties. [12]

Career statistics

Legend
  GPGames played  GS Games started MPG Minutes per game
 FG%  Field goal percentage 3P%  3-point field goal percentage FT%  Free throw percentage
 RPG  Rebounds per game APG  Assists per game SPG  Steals per game
 BPG  Blocks per game PPG Points per game Bold Career high
 * Led the league

NBA

Source [3]

Regular season

YearTeamGPGSMPGFG%3P%FT%RPGAPGSPGBPGPPG
1995–96 Utah 571011.6.473–.6673.1.1.11.13.6
1996–97 Utah 777023.6.515.000.6787.3.4.32.07.3
1997–98 Utah 632320.4.481–.4795.9.4.42.14.7
1998–99 Utah 484827.9.476–.6207.3.5.22.75.7
1999–2000 Utah 81319.8.464.000.6366.0.2.22.14.5
2000–01 Utah 81318.4.495.500.5565.1.3.31.84.5
2001–02 Utah 741415.0.453–.4854.2.7.21.53.3
2002–03 Utah 817423.8.518–.5106.2.7.21.85.4
2003–04 Utah 785127.6.476.000.5797.41.6.41.86.8
2004–05 Sacramento 5639.9.440.000.3423.0.7.1.71.6
2005–06 Utah 602213.5.492–.5003.81.0.11.12.4
Career75632119.5.486.100.5695.5.6.31.74.6

Playoffs

YearTeamGPGSMPGFG%3P%FT%RPGAPGSPGBPGPPG
1996 Utah 15014.1.444–.6193.3.1.11.43.5
1997 Utah 20*20*20.3.410–.7436.9.3.52.44.7
1998 Utah 19117.7.565–.4804.3.3.41.93.4
1999 Utah 111123.7.371–.6435.9.5.22.24.0
2000 Utah 8021.5.526–.4555.6.3.32.13.8
2001 Utah 5012.8.364–.0003.6.2.0.41.6
2002 Utah 4021.8.619–.1008.5.5.51.86.8
2003 Utah 5530.2.444–.7378.61.6.61.89.2
2004 Sacramento 2013.01.000––4.5.0.51.03.0
Career893719.9.465–.5735.4.3.31.94.2

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shawn Bradley</span> American basketball player (born 1972)

Shawn Paul Bradley is a German-American former professional basketball player who played center for the Philadelphia 76ers, New Jersey Nets, and Dallas Mavericks of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He is one of the tallest players in NBA history at 7 ft 6 in (2.29 m). Bradley was born in Landstuhl, West Germany, as his family was stationed at the U.S. military base medical facility, and grew up in Castle Dale, Utah. He holds citizenship in both the United States and Germany.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Clyde Drexler</span> American basketball player (born 1962)

Clyde Austin Drexler is an American former professional basketball player who currently works as the commissioner of the Big3 3-on-3 basketball league. Nicknamed "Clyde the Glide", he played 15 seasons in the National Basketball Association (NBA), spending a majority of his career with the Portland Trail Blazers before finishing with the Houston Rockets. He was a ten-time NBA All-Star and named to the NBA's 50th and 75th anniversary teams. Drexler won an NBA championship with Houston in 1995, and earned a gold medal on the 1992 United States Olympic team known as "The Dream Team". He was inducted twice into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, in 2004 for his individual career and in 2010 as a member of the "Dream Team". Drexler is widely considered one of the greatest basketball players and greatest shooting guards of all time.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Andrei Kirilenko</span> Russian basketball player (born 1981)

Andrei Gennadyevich Kirilenko, nicknamed AK-47, is a Russian basketball executive and former professional basketball player.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mark Eaton</span> American basketball player (1957–2021)

Mark Edward Eaton was an American professional basketball player who spent his entire career (1982–1993) with the Utah Jazz of the National Basketball Association (NBA). Named an NBA All-Star in 1989, he was twice voted the NBA Defensive Player of the Year and was a five-time member of the NBA All-Defensive Team. The 7-foot-4-inch (2.24 m) Eaton became one of the best defensive centers in NBA history. He led the league in blocks four times and holds the NBA single-season records for blocks (456) and blocked shots per game average (5.6), as well as career blocked shots per game (3.5). His No. 53 was retired by the Jazz.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">DeSagana Diop</span> Senegalese basketball player

DeSagana N'gagne Diop is a Senegalese former professional basketball player who is head coach for the Westchester Knicks of the NBA G League.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Howard Eisley</span> American basketball player and coach

Howard Jonathan Eisley is an American former professional basketball player and current coach. Born in Detroit, Eisley played college basketball at Boston College and was drafted in 1994 by the Minnesota Timberwolves. Eisley spent twelve seasons in the National Basketball Association (NBA): six with the Utah Jazz and the other six with seven other teams.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ron Boone</span> American basketball player (born 1946)

Ronald Bruce Boone is an American former professional basketball player. He had a 13-year career in the American Basketball Association (ABA) and National Basketball Association (NBA). Boone set a record for most consecutive games played in professional basketball history with 1,041 and claims to have never missed a game from when he started playing basketball in the fourth grade until his retirement. Boone is the current color commentator on Utah Jazz broadcasts.

Antoine Labotte Carr is an American former basketball player. Nicknamed "Big Dawg", he played power forward for six different teams in the National Basketball Association across 16 seasons.

Artis Wayne Cooper was an American professional basketball player who played fourteen seasons in the National Basketball Association (NBA). Nicknamed "Coop", he played for the Golden State Warriors, Utah Jazz, Dallas Mavericks, Portland Trail Blazers, and Denver Nuggets from 1978 to 1992. He was the Denver Nuggets’ all-time leader in blocks when he left the franchise in 1989. After his playing career ended, he worked as an executive with the Trail Blazers and Sacramento Kings.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Paul Millsap</span> American basketball player (born 1985)

Paul Millsap is an American former professional basketball player who played for 16 seasons in the National Basketball Association (NBA). A power forward from Louisiana Tech University, Millsap was selected by the Utah Jazz in the second round of the 2006 NBA draft and was named to the NBA All-Rookie Second Team. He played in Utah until 2013, when he became a member of the Atlanta Hawks. Millsap has also played for the Denver Nuggets, Brooklyn Nets, and Philadelphia 76ers. He is a four-time NBA All-Star.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kosta Koufos</span> Greek-American basketball player (born 1989)

Konstantine Demetrios "Kostas" Koufos is a Greek-American professional basketball player who is a free agent. He played one season at Ohio State before being selected by the Utah Jazz with the 23rd overall pick in the 2008 NBA draft.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Derrick Favors</span> American basketball player (born 1991)

Derrick Bernard Favors is an American professional basketball player who last played for the Windy City Bulls of the NBA G League. Favors played college basketball for the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets for one season before being selected by the New Jersey Nets with the third overall pick of the 2010 NBA draft.

The 2002–03 NBA season was the Jazz's 29th season in the National Basketball Association, and 24th season in Salt Lake City, Utah. During the off-season, the Jazz signed free agents Matt Harpring, Calbert Cheaney, and Mark Jackson. The team struggled losing seven of their first ten games, but then posted a six-game winning streak afterwards, and held a 29–20 record at the All-Star break. The Jazz finished third in the Midwest Division with a 47–35 record, and qualified for the playoffs for the twentieth straight season.

The 2000–01 NBA season was the Jazz's 27th season in the National Basketball Association, and 22nd season in Salt Lake City, Utah. After the retirement of Jeff Hornacek, the Jazz signed free agents Danny Manning, and John Starks, and acquired Donyell Marshall from the Golden State Warriors in an off-season four-team trade. The team also re-signed former Jazz forward David Benoit, and former Jazz guard John Crotty.

The 1999–2000 NBA season was the Utah Jazz's 26th season in the National Basketball Association, and 21st season in Salt Lake City, Utah. During the off-season, the Jazz signed free agent Olden Polynice, then later on signed Armen Gilliam in January. Polynice became the team's starting center, as Greg Ostertag played off the bench as a backup to Polynice. The Jazz were now the oldest team in the NBA still led by John Stockton and Karl Malone, who were both selected for the 2000 NBA All-Star Game, which was also Stockton's final All-Star appearance. The Jazz got off to a solid 15–7 start, which included a 7-game winning streak, but then lost six straight games between January and February, holding a 29–18 record at the All-Star break. However, they would win nine consecutive games between February and March, and recapture the Midwest Division with a solid 55–27 record, qualifying for the playoffs for the 17th straight season.

The 1995–96 NBA season was the Jazz's 22nd season in the National Basketball Association, and 17th season in Salt Lake City, Utah. During the off-season, the Jazz signed free agents Chris Morris, Greg Foster, and second-year guard Howard Eisley. The team also released James Donaldson, who was out with a strained hamstring, to free agency in December. The Jazz got off to a fast start winning ten of their first twelve games, then later on holding a 32–16 record at the All-Star break, then winning seven straight games between February and March, and finishing in second place in the Midwest Division with a 55–27 record. They made their thirteenth consecutive trip to the playoffs.

The 1997–98 NBA season was the Rockets' 31st season in the National Basketball Association, and 27th season in Houston. After a slow 3–5 start to the season, the Rockets went on a nine-game winning streak winning 12 of their first 17 games. The team traveled to Mexico City, Mexico, where they defeated the Dallas Mavericks, 108–106 on December 6, 1997, which was the first NBA regular season game played in Mexico.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rudy Gobert</span> French basketball player (born 1992)

Rudy Gobert-Bourgarel is a French professional basketball player for the Minnesota Timberwolves of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He previously played for the Utah Jazz who acquired him during the 2013 NBA draft. Gobert also represents the French national team in its international competitions. Standing at 7 ft 1 in (2.16 m) tall with a wingspan of 7 ft 9 in (2.36 m) long, he plays the center position. He is regarded as one of the best defensive players of all time.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jeff Withey</span> American basketball player (born 1990)

Jeffree David Withey is an American professional basketball player for the Taipei Fubon Braves of the Taiwanese P. League+. He played college basketball for the University of Kansas where he became known for his shot-blocking ability and his defensive presence. He was drafted 39th overall in the 2013 NBA draft by the Portland Trail Blazers.

Keyonte Darnell George is an American professional basketball player for the Utah Jazz of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played college basketball for the Baylor Bears. He was a consensus five-star recruit and one of the top players in the 2022 class.

References

  1. ↑ "Houston Chronicle: "Big Guy Concerns North Shore"".
  2. ↑ Howard-Cooper, Scott (May 22, 1997). "Even Ostertag Taking Shots at Shaq". Los Angeles Times.
  3. 1 2 "Greg Ostertag Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft Status and more". Basketball-Reference.com.
  4. ↑ "NBA Blocked Shot Study from 82games.com". 82games.com.
  5. ↑ "On This Day In NBA History: August 2 - The Largest Trade In League History". Fastbreak On SI. August 2, 2022. Retrieved January 23, 2025.
  6. ↑ "Deseret News: Fans give Ostertag a warm send-off". Deseret News . Archived from the original on July 5, 2011.
  7. ↑ "Dallas Mavericks | Dallas Morning News". www.dallasnews.com. Archived from the original on January 7, 2012.
  8. ↑ "Ex-Jazz center Ostertag abandons comeback". ESPN.com. January 19, 2012.
  9. ↑ Greg Ostertag player profile at NBA.com Archived March 7, 2009, at the Wayback Machine .
  10. ↑ "theostertaggroup". theostertaggroup. Retrieved October 19, 2017.
  11. ↑ "About Us". tagshometown.com. Retrieved January 23, 2025.
  12. ↑ "CENTURY 21 Harvey Properties - Residential, Farm and Ranch, Land, Commercial and Multi Family Real Estate - Paris, Texas - Bonham, Texas - Clarksville, Texas". www.c21php.com. Retrieved February 4, 2019.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.