Former KU center Greg Ostertag’s TV not tuned into Jordan documentary: ‘I lived it’
The well-reviewed ESPN documentary, “The Last Dance,” isn’t must-see TV on Sunday nights in Greg Ostertag’s Mount Vernon, Texas abode.
“I haven’t watched any of it. I don’t need to watch it. I lived it,” Ostertag said matter-of-factly.
The 7-foot-2, 47-year-old former University of Kansas basketball center figures to get some airtime during the 10-part series depicting Michael Jordan’s last season with the Chicago Bulls. After all, in that last season (1997-98), the Bulls clipped Ostertag’s Utah Jazz four games to two in the NBA Finals. It marked the Bulls’ third-straight title (back to back vs. Utah) and sixth overall in the Jordan era.
“People have asked if I’m going to watch. I have no desire to, not because there’s any ill-will. The only basketball I watch is KU,” Ostertag said.
“I watch a little NBA here and there,” he quickly corrected. “I get angry when I watch it (NBA). I don’t think it’s basketball anymore, (it’s) glorified street ball. They don’t really play basketball anymore.”
Ostertag explained his stance on the modern NBA game, which is currently on hold because of COVID-19 coronavirus.
“Houston and Toronto had a game, 154-152, in regulation. That’s absurd. That’s not basketball. I get irritated when I watch it,’ Ostertag said.
Houston hasn’t defeated the Raptors by that score this season. But the Rockets have beaten Washington 159-158, and upended Atlanta 158-111 and Phoenix 139-125.
“Don’t get me wrong. I understand people want to see 310 points on the board between two teams. I understand it. I don’t appreciate the way it’s played. It’s not the way I grew up playing,” said Ostertag. He played in the NBA 11 seasons after a four-year career at KU that ended in 1995.
“It’s a fast-paced game where they don’t run offense. Guys who were bangers and played inside and thrived in halfcourt offenses and defenses … they’re not around.”
Yes, one of Ostertag’s biggest complaints about the NBA today is the departure of the traditional big man, which figures to make it difficult for a player such as KU 7-foot senior Udoka Azubuike to make it big in the pros.
“They’ve got Doke going mid-second round,” Ostertag said of the Big 12’s player of the year being considered a likely second-round pick in the 2020 NBA Draft. “As dominant as he is inside, his game doesn’t match with the NBA. Somebody will give him a chance, (but) he’ll have a hard time playing at that level. I hope he proves me wrong.
“Can he guard guys out to 16 feet, play at that speed? It’ll be tough for him in this reality. I’d have a hard time playing in the league now,” added Ostertag, who had career averages of 4.6 points and 5.5 rebounds a game in 756 career contests. He totaled 1,293 blocked shots while converting 1,339 field goals in 2,757 attempts for 48.6%.
Ostertag said if a big man wants to make it nowadays, he needs to resemble … “Joel Embiid. He shoots threes,” Ostertag said of the 7-footer out of KU who plays for the Philadelphia 76ers.
“Anthony Davis (6-10, Los Angeles Lakers) runs the floor, shoots threes, puts the ball on the floor. Porzingis (Kristaps, 7-3, Dallas Mavericks) would prefer playing on the perimeter. You don’t have back to the basket guys anymore,” Ostertag said.
Reminded that Ostertag, like Azubuike, thrived on being a shot blocker, Ostertag said: “They don’t go inside, man. Everybody shoots jump shots. I’m not saying I wouldn’t block or change shots. Most 5-men will take a guy like Udoka or Greg Ostertag out to the three-point line and make you guard them. They can shoot threes. If you get up on them they’ll go by. Sorry, maybe Doke works on his game and can do those things in the future. I want him to be successful. It sucks a guy that dominant on the college level is middle second round.”
The current Jordan docu-series, of course, won’t be getting into philosophical discussions about the NBA now vs. NBA then. The series is about the Bulls, who also beat Utah four games to two in the 1997 Finals.
Yes, Jordan knocked off Ostertag’s team two years in a row on the biggest stage. However, in Ostertag’s total career games contested versus Jordan, the Jazz prevailed over Chicago 10 wins against nine losses.
“It means we outscored them 10 times in 19 tries. It doesn’t mean anything. They won it … the ultimate prize,” Ostertag said of the NBA title “They got to the ultimate spot everybody plays 82 (regular season games) to get into. We didn’t do the things to get the ring. You can say all you want about getting there (to Finals two straight years). What you remember is things you didn’t do to win. We gave it a good shot. It doesn’t mean we won,” Ostertag added.
As far as personal dealings with Hall of Famer Jordan, Ostertag said: “I don’t know him outside of playing against him. I know what he did (in NBA) and when he did it.”
Ostertag, by the way, has embarked on a new career. He’s a real estate agent in Texas for Century 21 Harvey Properties.
KU fans living in Texas can work with Ostertag on acquiring a house in the Lone Star State.
“I don’t know what they (KU fans) would think … probably the same thing as anybody else when they meet this 7-foot, 300-pound guy,” Ostertag said of KU fans working with Ostertag on a sale. “I’ve had my license two years. I enjoy it. It’s a lot of stuff to learn. People I work with have been doing it a long time. The guy who is our lead ranch-and-land guy is one of the best in the state of Texas — sell land, find land. People can go online and find me, find my company and contact me.”
Ostertag said he remains in good shape, but he doesn’t play hoops anymore.
“I drive an hour and a half once a week to play hockey in Dallas — forward or center,” said Ostertag, who has played organized hockey for several years now. “I hold my own.”
Of his KU days he said: “I I talk to Eric (Pauley) quite a bit. I talk to Patrick (Richey) once in a while. I’ll send Pat a text when something’s going on with Kansas City teams — when the Royals won the World Series, the Chiefs (won Super Bowl). I see (Greg) Gurley when I’m around there. I saw him in Oklahoma. I went to Norman and saw the guys play (KU vs. Oklahoma this past season). I communicate with Scot (Pollard) once in a while.
“I try to stay in touch.”
This story was originally published April 27, 2020 at 10:39 AM with the headline "Former KU center Greg Ostertag’s TV not tuned into Jordan documentary: ‘I lived it’."
