Like Father… Like Son… The story of Steve Burtt Jr and Sr
There has NEVER been a father and son duo quite like this one! Steve Burtt Jr and Sr are BOTH Iona College Basketball LEGENDS‼️ They each have scored over 2,000 points in their collegiate careers… and gone on to have successful Pro careers. Not to mention they are the first Father and son duo to compete on the same court at The Entertainers Basketball Classic (EBC) at Rucker Park. Both Burtt’s are legendary in their own right and it’s mandatory that they both receive their flowers for their extraordinary efforts on the basketball court.
Photo courtesy of icgaels.com
Burtt Sr played at Iona from 1980-1984, where he became the school’s all time-leading scorer and was selected in the second round of the NBA Draft by the Golden State Warriors. The elder Burtt played professionally for 16 years, spending time with NBA franchises like the Warriors, Los Angeles Clippers, and Phoenix Suns but also enjoying success in Italy after his days in the NBA were done. You can walk into any OG basketball conversation in NYC and they will tell you that Burtt was getting buckets “All Day”, as his nickname suggests. He was the crown jewel of Harlem and even today his name rings bells and commands respect in the basketball world.
Photo courtesy of TCBD.com
They say the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree, so it was only right that Steve Burtt Jr. play basketball. It’s not easy having a parent who plays basketball professionally. You have to deal with the fact that your parent is on the road a lot, and for Burtt Jr. it was no different. There was no pressure for Jr. to play basketball growing up. He could have followed any path and still got support from Dad.
Photo courtesy of Steve Burtt Jr IG
Steve Burtt Jr. is currently second on Iona’s all-time scoring list with 2,034 points, behind none other than his father. Burtt Jr., a graduate of Rice High School, went to Iona in 2002, and by his senior year he averaged 25.2 points per game and knocked down 40.7% of his three point shots. He was partly responsible for Iona easily winning the MAAC title to earn an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.
All Day & The Saga Continues
Burtt Jr. wasn’t a big name recruit coming out of High School but what he lacked in hype he compensated in heart. It was tuff competing for time with the players at Rice HS in Burt’s era. But at the end of the day everything happens for a reason. He’s was always the one who was in the gym putting up shots while everyone else was sleeping. He mantra has always been to put the work in and let the results of that hard work show. He wasn’t chosen for the NBA draft but instead made a stellar pro career overseas, playing professionally in Spain, Cyprus, Ukraine, Russia, Israel, China, and Lebanon among many stops. He’s still carving opponents and winning chips overseas.
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Maybe someday a father and son duo will be able to eclipse what the Burtt’s were able to accomplish. Until then, we will put them on the father & son Basketball Mt. Rushmore. Salute to all of their individual accomplishments and may their names and legacy live on forever!