Pat Burke

Patrick John Burke (born December 14, 1973) is an Irish former professional basketball player. Burke (whose family moved from Tullamore to Cleveland, Ohio when he was three years old ) competed in the National Basketball Association and also played in Europe, ending his career with the Polish club Asseco Prokom Sopot. He was a co-captain of the Irish national basketball team and also represented his country at the World University Games.

Undrafted out of Auburn University in 1997, he became the first Irish born player in NBA history when he signed a contract with the Orlando Magic in 2002 and played 62 games for them, averaging 4.3 points and 2.4 rebounds. He did not play in the NBA during the 2003-04 NBA season or the 2004-05 NBA season. On his return, he played for the Phoenix Suns for two seasons and was in training camp with the Golden State Warriors in 2007 before being released.

Burke was a Euroleague champion with Panathinaikos in 2000, and also helped the Greens to win three consecutive Greek League titles from 1999 to 2001. In Europe, Burke has also played for Tau Ceramica, Gran Canaria and Real Madrid in Spain and Maroussi in Greece. He helped Real to the final of the ULEB Cup in 2004 and the Spanish League title in 2005.

In November 2007, Burke signed with the Russian team Khimki BC. Burke helped the Khimki BC win their first Russian Cup championship.

He has averaged 8.2 points per game and 5.2 rebounds per game in 211 career games in the Euroleague. In 2008, he moved to the Polish club Asseco Prokom Sopot, and helped the team win the league title.