SAN ANTONIO ? Utah Jazz center Greg Ostertag, an 11-year NBA veteran out of Kansas University, will retire at the end of the season.

“It’s just time to move on. I’ve run out of gas,” the 7-foot-2 Ostertag said before Monday’s Jazz-Spurs game.

Ostertag decided to retire when, “I woke up one morning on the road and didn’t know where I was. I think it was in Orlando and I said, ‘I don’t want to do this any more. I want to watch my kids grow up.”

Another factor?

“I want to end my career where it started,” Ostertag said. “I’m not a guy who can sit on the bench and collect a paycheck. I realized if I couldn’t play for this team, there aren’t many I can play for.”

Ostertag, drafted by the Jazz after his final season at KU in 1995, has played 10 of his 11 seasons in Utah. He signed as a free agent with Sacramento prior to the 2004-05 season, but was re-acquired by the Jazz a year ago. Ostertag played sparingly this season, especially after Carlos Boozer returned from injury in March.

During his career, the 33-year-old Ostertag made headlines on and off the court. Prior to the 1997-98 season opener, he was slapped by L.A. Lakers’ All-Star Shaquille O’Neal when their paths crossed at a pre-game shootaround. O’Neal was suspended for the incident.

In June of 2002, Ostertag donated a kidney to his sister and became a widely-recognized organ transplant spokesman. He also does charity work.

Ostertag’s best season came in 1996-97, when he averaged 7.3 points, 7.3 rebounds, 1.97 blocks and helped the Jazz reach their first-ever NBA Finals. Ostertag scored a career-high 25 points on April 18, 2001, at Phoenix. He played in 87 playoffs games in his career, averaging 4.3 points, 5.4 rebounds and 1.85 blocks.

“I’ve had my ups and downs, good games and bad games,” Ostertag told the Salt Lake Tribune. “I have no regrets about playing with the Jazz. I’ve gone to the Finals twice, something most guys in this league will never do. I played with two of the best ever to step on the court (John Stockton, Karl Malone).”

Of course, he could always change his mind. A free agent, money could be had with Utah or elsewhere. He made $4.4 million this season.

“I’ve still got a couple of years in me. I think I can still help somebody. I’m not done yet,” he said Sunday, a day before his retirement announcement.

Ostertag has been on the floor for a total of five minutes in the past month. He has not scored a point since March 1, and has sat completely unused 14 times in 16 games – more than any season of his Utah career.

“If I was a young guy, if this was my first or second year in the league, then yeah, I’d be really frustrated,” Ostertag said. “But you know what, I’ve been around 11 years. I know what to expect.”