Steve Burtt Jr.
An American-born guard who carved out a unique European legacy, becoming a naturalized Ukrainian star and a scoring force in multiple leagues.
Born 1984 (age 42)·American-born basketball player·Birthday: March 7·Millennials
Biography
Steve Burtt Jr.'s basketball journey is a transatlantic tale of adaptation and reinvention. The son of a former NBA player, he built his early reputation at Iona College before taking his talents overseas. His path took a defining turn in Ukraine, where his dynamic scoring and leadership for clubs like BC Donetsk led to nationalization. Adopting the Ukrainian jersey, Burtt became a central figure for the national team, competing in EuroBasket tournaments. His career became a marathon of elite European competition, with stops in Italy, Russia, and Turkey, proving that a player's impact can be measured far beyond his birthplace. He is remembered not just as an import, but as a player who embraced a new basketball homeland.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Steve was born in 1984, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Steve Was Born
The biggest hits of 1984
#1 Movie
Beverly Hills Cop
Best Picture
Amadeus
#1 TV Show
Dallas
Steve's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1984Born
Apple Macintosh introduced
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $59,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"When Doves Cry" — PrinceBest Picture: Amadeus
1989Started school
Berlin Wall falls; Tiananmen Square protests
Gas: $1.00/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Look Away" — ChicagoBest Picture: Driving Miss Daisy
1997Became a teenager
Princess Diana dies in Paris car crash; Harry Potter published
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $104,100Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Candle in the Wind 1997" — Elton JohnBest Picture: Titanic
2000Could drive
Y2K passes without incident; contested Bush-Gore election
Gas: $1.51/galHome: $119,600Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Breathe" — Faith HillBest Picture: Gladiator
2002Could vote
Euro currency enters circulation
Gas: $1.36/galHome: $137,800Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"How You Remind Me" — NickelbackBest Picture: Chicago
2005Turned 21
Hurricane Katrina devastates New Orleans; YouTube launches
Gas: $2.30/galHome: $167,500Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"We Belong Together" — Mariah CareyBest Picture: Crash
2014Turned 30
Russia annexes Crimea; Ebola outbreak in West Africa
Gas: $3.37/galHome: $160,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Happy" — Pharrell WilliamsBest Picture: Birdman
2024Turned 40
AI reshapes industries; Paris Olympics
Gas: $3.31/galHome: $372,000Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"Espresso" — Sabrina CarpenterBest Picture: Anora
2026Age 42 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Led the Ukrainian SuperLeague in scoring during the 2012-13 season while playing for BC Donetsk.
- Represented the Ukrainian national basketball team in EuroBasket 2013 after obtaining citizenship.
- Finished his collegiate career at Iona College as the school's all-time second-leading scorer.
- Won the Italian League championship (Serie A) with Montepaschi Siena in 2013.
Did You Know?
His father, Steve Burtt Sr., also played in the NBA for the Golden State Warriors.
He holds both American and Ukrainian citizenship.
He played for the same Ukrainian club, BC Donetsk, in two separate stints (2009-2010 and 2012-2014).
“I had to adapt my game to survive and thrive in a different basketball culture.”
