Last Updated on July 26, 2026 by Mat Diekhake

Spacing the floor became second nature for Patrick Patterson, yet his value was just as evident in the subtle details—setting firm screens, making the extra pass, and rotating early to plug defensive gaps. He rarely demanded attention, but teams consistently benefited from a dependable forward who understood where to be, kept the ball moving, and willingly handled the connective work that often goes unnoticed.

Here’s a detailed profile of Patrick Patterson:

Player Profile

  • Full Name: Patrick Davell Patterson
  • Nationality: American
  • Age: Born March 14, 1989
  • Hometown: Huntington, West Virginia, USA
  • Height: 6 feet 8 inches (2.03 meters)
  • Weight: 235 lbs (107 kg)
  • Wingspan: 7 feet (2.13 meters)
  • Shoe Size: US size 15
  • Number: Most notably wore 54
  • Position: Power Forward
  • High School: Huntington High School in Huntington, West Virginia, where he was a McDonald’s All-American and a highly rated recruit.
  • College: University of Kentucky (2007–2010), where he played under coaches Tubby Smith, Billy Gillispie, and John Calipari.
  • NBA Draft: Selected 14th overall in the 2010 NBA Draft by the Houston Rockets.
  • Teams Played For:
    1. Houston Rockets (2010–2013)
    2. Sacramento Kings (2013)
    3. Toronto Raptors (2013–2017)
    4. Oklahoma City Thunder (2017–2019)
    5. Los Angeles Clippers (2019–2021)
  • Championship Rings: None in the NBA.
  • Kids: No public information about children.
  • Siblings: Has a younger sister, Jenea Patterson.

Player Archetype / Play Style

Patrick Patterson’s player archetype was that of a stretch-four and low-usage glue big: a strong, broad-framed power forward who spaced the floor, screened, popped into open jumpers, and kept possessions moving without needing the offense built around him. Defensively, he fit best as a positional team defender rather than a true rim protector, using strength, discipline, and solid awareness to body post players, hold his ground, and rotate within a scheme, even if quicker actions in space could expose him. Offensively, his main value came as a pick-and-pop option, spot-up shooter, and connective frontcourt piece who created room for guards and interior scorers, while his physical profile — sturdy build, long arms, and an NBA-ready frame — helped him survive inside despite not being an explosive vertical athlete. Overall, Patterson played like a smart complementary big whose appeal came from floor spacing, reliable decision-making, and functional two-way fit more than star-level creation.

Scouting Report

Patrick Patterson’s game was built on restraint. He rarely forced the action, and that’s exactly why coaches could trust him to fit beside stars with very different styles. The first thing you notice is how quickly he recognised where the next pass needed to go after setting a screen. He would pop into space instead of rolling into traffic, keep his hands ready, and either shoot immediately or swing the ball before the defence had a chance to recover. He wasn’t creating advantages with isolation play or complex pick-and-roll reads, but he consistently widened the floor by making opposing bigs respect his jumper, opening cleaner driving lanes for guards. Around the basket he preferred simple finishes over difficult attempts, using timing rather than power to find gaps after offensive rebounds or short rolls. Defensively he understood the geometry of a possession. His value wasn’t spectacular blocks; it was sliding into nail help early, communicating switches, showing just enough at the level of the screen before recovering, and rotating as the low man without abandoning the weak-side corner. The trade-off was that he could struggle against centres who established deep post position or against quicker forwards capable of attacking him repeatedly in space, because he wasn’t recovering through sheer length or burst. What stands out is how few unnecessary mistakes he made. He stayed within his game almost to a fault, which occasionally left his offence feeling passive when a team needed someone to manufacture a basket late in the clock. To me, Patterson was at his best as a complementary frontcourt piece on a team driven by high-level creators, where his spacing, decision-making and disciplined team defence quietly amplified everyone around him rather than drawing attention to himself. There were similarities to Channing Frye in the way he stretched the floor from the power forward spot and understood his role inside structured offences, while parts of his defensive approach also echoed Marvin Williams, relying on positioning, anticipation and clean rotations instead of highlight-reel plays.

Fun Facts

  • Known as a reliable role player, Patterson contributed as a stretch-four with three-point shooting and solid defense.
  • Played significant minutes in playoff runs with the Toronto Raptors and Los Angeles Clippers.
  • Though not a star, he was praised for his basketball IQ and ability to fit into team systems.

Sources:

Raptors Republic — All Eyez on Me: A Comprehensive Look at Patrick Patterson
Bullets Forever — 2010 NBA Draft Prospect Profile: Patrick Patterson
Raptors Republic — Looking back at We The North’s analytics darling, Patrick Patterson
Bullets Forever — Better know a 2014 NBA free agent: Patrick Patterson