Former Ohio State basketball forward Jared Sullinger could be looking to make a comeback with his basketball career. Not as a coach mind you, but as a player back in the league according to a story by Forbes.
Sullinger played for the Buckeyes for two years from 2010-2012. He was a five-star recruit coming out of Northland High School in Columbus and took OSU to the Final Four in 2012. He was instantly a success at Ohio State and was a sure-fire first-rounder. The only thing that held him back was a history of injuries and conditioning questions leading into the 2012 NBA draft.
The Boston Celtics ended up selecting Sullinger as the 21st overall pick, and from there, the story gets a little rocky. He had lumbar disc surgery in February of 2013, then missed most of the season with a stress fracture in his foot, an injury that he dealt with through the remainder of his time in the NBA. He was eventually released by the Phoenix Suns in 2017, and that’s the last time we saw Sullinger in an NBA uniform.
Now, it appears, he is hoping to give it a go again.
“I’m definitely trying to get back to the NBA,” Sullinger told Forbes. “I feel like I’ve still got a lot of basketball left, I can help a team, I feel like me being not the biggest guy but still strong enough to guard a five and be able to stretch the floor, I’m in better shape.”
Sullinger is just 28 years old and says he feels “amazing.” And if you saw him recently helping coach Carmen’s Crew in The Basketball Tournament, it sure looks like he has worked hard to remain in shape. He still has the same agent he had during his playing days, and says he take any route necessary to try to return to the NBA.
Legs feeling good….. *kinda😜* pic.twitter.com/DeJnqmuVVs
— Jared Sullinger Sr. (@Jared_Sully0) January 23, 2021
“I’m just looking for somebody to give me an opportunity,” Sullinger said. “If I get the opportunity, I promise I will seize the moment at that moment.”
Count me in the camp that would love to see what a finally healthy Sullinger could do at the highest level. I really feel like he was robbed of his best years and has the type of game that can help a basketball team at the highest of levels.
We’ll keep an eye on this if anything comes of it.
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