Pat Burke facts for kids
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| Center | |
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | December 14, 1973 Tullamore, Ireland |
| Nationality | Irish |
| High school | Mariner (Cape Coral, Florida) |
| Listed height | 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) |
| Listed weight | 250 lb (113 kg) |
| Career information | |
| College | Auburn (1993–1997) |
| NBA Draft | 1997 / Undrafted |
| Pro career | 1997–2009 |
| Career history | |
| 1997–1998 | TAU Cerámica |
| 1998–2001 | Panathinaikos |
| 2001–2002 | Maroussi |
| 2002–2003 | Orlando Magic |
| 2003–2004 | Gran Canaria |
| 2004–2005 | Real Madrid |
| 2005–2007 | Phoenix Suns |
| 2007–2008 | Khimki BC |
| 2008–2009 | Asseco Prokom Sopot |
| Career highlights and awards | |
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Patrick John Burke, born on December 14, 1973, is a former professional basketball player from Ireland. When he was three years old, Pat and his family moved from Tullamore, Ireland, to Cleveland, Ohio, in the United States.
He played in the National Basketball Association (NBA) for three seasons. He was with the Orlando Magic and the Phoenix Suns. Pat Burke is the only person from Ireland to ever play in the NBA! He also played basketball in Europe, mostly in Greece and Spain. He finished his career playing for Asseco Prokom Sopot.
Pat was also a co-captain for the senior Irish national basketball team. He even represented his country at the World University Games.
Contents
Pat's Early Life and College Basketball
Pat Burke played high school basketball at Mariner High School. This school is located in Cape Coral, Florida.
After high school, he played college basketball for the Auburn Tigers. He was part of the Auburn University team from 1993 to 1997.
Pat Burke's Professional Basketball Career
Pat Burke had an exciting career playing basketball both in the NBA and in Europe.
Playing in the NBA
Pat Burke was not chosen in the NBA draft after leaving Auburn University in 1997. However, he made history in 2002. He signed a contract with the Orlando Magic and became the first Irish-born player in NBA history!
He played 62 games with the Magic. During this time, he scored about 4.3 points and grabbed 2.4 rebounds per game. He did not play in the NBA during the 2003–04 or 2004–05 seasons.
Pat returned to the NBA to play for the Phoenix Suns for two seasons. He also tried out for the Golden State Warriors in 2007 but was later released.
Playing in Europe
Before and after his time in the NBA, Pat Burke played for many teams in Europe. He became a EuroLeague champion with Panathinaikos in the 1999–2000 season. He also helped Panathinaikos win three Greek League titles in a row from 1999 to 2001.
In Europe, he also played for Spanish clubs like Tau Ceramica, Gran Canaria, and Real Madrid. He also played for Maroussi in Greece. He helped Real Madrid reach the final of the ULEB Cup (now called EuroCup) in 2004. He also helped them win the Spanish League title in 2005.
In November 2007, Pat joined the Russian club Khimki. He helped them win their first ever Russian Cup title. Pat averaged 8.2 points and 5.2 rebounds in 211 games across different European leagues. In 2008, he moved to the Polish club Asseco Prokom Sopot. He helped them win the league title before he retired.
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