NBA Rumors: Is Greg Ostertag Planning an NBA Comeback?

Hold the phones, stop the presses, fist pump the air and dig out those old Jazz jerseys.

Greg Ostertag is back.

Before you high-five the person next to you, let's clarify exactly where Ostertag is targeting his comeback.

Miami?  No.  New York?  Not quite. 

The former fantastic flat-topped star is reportedly headed to Dallas, just not to play for Mark Cuban or the Mavericks.

According to the Dallas Morning News, The Frisco Legends, a team owned by Mavs GM Donnie Nelson and coached by Basketball Hall of Famer Nancy Lieberman, are looking at Ostertag to join the team either as a player or an assistant coach—and possibly both.

I know what you're thinking, I thought Christmas wasn't for another couple of months either.

Ostertag is only 37 years old, not an unheard of age for a veteran big man.  He realizes he's got some conditioning to do to get back in game shape however, as he was quoted as saying:

"I have some cobwebs. The more I play, the quicker I'll get it back. Now I'm trying to get in good shape and get stronger. The basketball will come," Ostertag said. "I've been working hard since June to get weight off to where I can be productive. I'm in the mode I don't want to work this hard for nothing. I want to get my feet planted somewhere, get in veterans camp, and in the preseason maybe somebody will like what they see."

Ostertag enjoyed a 11 year NBA career where he averaged 4.6 points and 5.5 rebounds a game with the Sacramento Kings and Utah Jazz.  His teams had a winning record in all 11 seasons, no doubt due to his superior awesomeness.

But won't it be a little odd to see someone such as Greg playing in a league dominated by young and inexperienced players?  D-League president Dan Reed doesn't think so.

"In general, we look to sign talented players who are in the 'development' stage of their careers, and whom NBA teams have expressed interest in evaluating further. This usually means we sign younger prospects (and we do have an 18-year-old age minimum), however periodically there is an accomplished veteran who wants to continue playing for a shot to get into the NBA.

"As long as said player can still compete and a few NBA teams tell us they're interested in seeing him play, we'll usually offer him a slot."

Maybe this won't be the biggest headline heading into this years season, but some would argue it should be.

Also worth noting, in 2002 Ostertag donated a kidney to his sister who was suffering from Kidney disease.  When he returned to the court he made history as the first person to ever play in the NBA after donating an organ, so that's neat.

Could we possibly see big No. 00 suiting up for a championship run with the Heat or Lakers come spring?

Imagine if you will, Miami on a fast-break. Ostertag with a running start throws down a Dwayne Wade alley-oop pass on Dwight Howard, let's out an emphatic roar and high-fives LeBron on his way back down the court.

We can dream, can't we?