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.

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.

The Jazz hoped he could fill a void in the team's defense created by the retirement of Mark Eaton a few seasons earlier.

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.

Nevertheless, Ostertag made valuable contributions to the team on the defensive side of the floor, providing size and intimidation in the paint.

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.