Well, this offseason has slowed down since the signings of Ronnie Price and Jason Hart, and right now the news around the NBA is that former stars Reggie Miller, Allan Houston, Charles Oakley, and others would like to return for another chance at an NBA title.
(By the way, Greg Ostertag will not really be coming out of retirement, or signing with the Jazz.)
Considering the names of Ronnie Price and Jason Hart don’t yet instill fear in the hearts of Jazz opponents, here’s a list of former Jazz players who the Jazz should try to bring out of retirement. To qualify for this list, players must have played at least 250 games in a Jazz uniform (sorry Darryl Dawkins and Spencer Haywood), no longer play in the NBA, and be a registered member of the AARP looking for another NBA paycheck.
All-Utah Jazz first-team
SF - Adrian Dantley: how many other players averaged 30 PPG for four consecutive seasons?
PF - Karl Malone: second-highest scorer in NBA history, why not make it #1 with the Celtics?
C - Mark Eaton: the best shotblocker the Jazz ever had, especially if AK stays in his slump
SG - Pete Maravich: one of the flashiest players ever, would require revival to come out of retirement
PG - John Stockton: just beat out Rusty LaRue for this spot
All-Utah Jazz second-team
SF - Andrei Kirilenko: most versatile whiner in this millenium of the Jazz
PF - Thurl Bailey: played over 700 games with the team during his career
C - Greg Ostertag: because Okur is a couple regular-season games short of 250
SG - Darrell Griffith: not many Jazz players could live up to a Dr. Dunkenstein nickname
PG - Rickey Green: one of the only Jazz PGs to get significant minutes, aside from #12
Obviously, these choices could be greatly disputed, as everybody has their own personal favorites and standards to judge the top Jazz players of all time. Deron Williams, Carlos Boozer, and Mehmet Okur all have a great chance at joining the list real soon.
Searching through the all-time Jazz roster, it became apparent how Stockton and Malone almost singlehandedly define the tradition and history of the Utah Jazz franchise.
With Danny Ainge looking to bring in Reggie Miller (and Bob Cousy) to finish off his rotation, why don’t the Jazz give another chance to Greg Ostertag? He’s the shotblocking center the Jazz need!
La287 is a contributing writer for UtahJazzBlog.net — while also maintaining Daily Basketball, a round-up of the latest NBA and NCAA sporting news.
August 10th, 2007 at 4:35 pm
Ha Ha I love it! Great article!
That All Jazz 1st team would make a pretty hefty opponent for anyone, how would they stack up against an All laker 1st team, or an all celtics 1st team? …. Pretty dang good i think!
As far as bringing Ostertag back… only if he could promise to play as the Ostertag that dominates. Back then, every 20-35 games, Tag would emerge with a great performance and get everyone all excited as the return of the Kansas star we thought we drafted. Though Tag was only a mediocre player, he was fun to watch back then, he has one of the best records against Shaq! I was there the night he retired, he really loved\loves utah, you could see it. I can respect that for sure, so hey,Why not… Bring back the Tag!
August 10th, 2007 at 5:28 pm
I think Greg Ostertag is actually pretty satisfied as an assistant high school coach in Kansas. The kids must love that, as Ostertag is little more than a joke in the in media.
I’m not sure I’d really want him to come back. Actually, I’m sure I wouldn’t, but it makes for an entertaining idea. Not to mention the fact that I appreciate Fesenko more, being a second-rounder quote machine.
August 10th, 2007 at 8:45 pm
This headline gave me a heart attack!!
August 10th, 2007 at 8:49 pm
You might, for the sake of the collective sanity of Jazz Nation, want to explain that the title for this post is a joke. Ye gods, I was worried.
August 10th, 2007 at 11:18 pm
It crossed my mind multiple times, but I wanted to get reactions like jphj44’s. I’ll put a disclaimer in there.
And if you haven’t figured it out before reading this comment, GREG OSTERTAG WILL NOT BE SIGNING WITH THE JAZZ. However, feel free to leave your feedback on the best Jazz players of all time.
August 11th, 2007 at 8:26 am
Haha, I was actually joking, no disclaimer is needed. Intelligent folks would figure it out anyway. Might as well keep it there now that it’s there, though. Great piece.
August 11th, 2007 at 2:23 pm
Well, you never know. I wanted to make sure I didn’t see the signing announced on the news tonight. The main point of this article was actually to list some of the top Jazz players of all time. However, Greg Ostertag kind of took over.
August 11th, 2007 at 4:50 pm
As Greg Ostertag is wont to do.
August 13th, 2007 at 9:01 pm
It is a stupid thought, but I would have much rather had the Jazz bring Stockton out of retirement to back up Deron than the two guys they signed. Not that Hart and Price are bad, but I am willing to bet that Stock would still run circles around those two. Besides, the Jazz only need 12 minutes a night out of the guy.
Imagine that.
As for Ostertag… I love the guy, seriously, but no thanks.
August 13th, 2007 at 10:41 pm
“It is a stupid thought, but I would have much rather had the Jazz bring Stockton out of retirement to back up Deron than the two guys they signed.”
And as long as I’m dreaming, I’d like a pony.
That would be great, though.