Patterson was UCLA's starting center in the seasons between Alcindor and Bill Walton, and part of the Bruins' string of seven consecutive NCAA titles. Patterson averaged 21.9 points and 20.2 rebounds per game on the Bruins' freshman team in 1966-67, then redshirted in 1967-68. He served as a backup on the 1968-69 team. He was eighth on the team in scoring with 5.0 points per game and fifth in rebounding with 3.8 per game. He also scored four points in the national title game. In 1969-70 he was joined in the starting lineup by four other future NBA players, forwards Sidney Wicks and Curtis Rowe and guards Henry Bibby and John Vallely. For the season he averaged 12.5 points and 10.0 rebounds per game, with a field goal percentage of.496 and free throw percentage of.741. He scored 17 points as UCLA defeated Jacksonville University 80-69 in the 1970 NCAA championship game. After the season, UCLA honored him with the J.D. Morgan Memorial Award presented by the Bruin Hoopsters for the outstanding "team player." In 1971, he helped lead the Bruins to another national title with the same starting lineup, except forKenny Booker replacing the graduated Vallely, as Patterson averaged 12.9 points and 9.8 rebounds per game. Patterson saved his best for the final game of his college career with a personal-best 29 points in a 68-62 win over Villanova in the 1971 NCAA championship game. During Patterson's two seasons as a starter, the Bruins were a combined 57-3, and 84-4 in his three seasons. At UCLA, he was an active member of Campus Crusade for Christ and even started a ministry on campus, the Jesus Christ Light and Power House which housed and served Christians and students of all faiths and persuasions.
Professional career
Patterson was eligible for the professional basketball drafts after his second varsity season due to his earlier redshirt season. He passed up a chance to play for the Phoenix Suns, who selected him in the 1970 NBA Draft, and the Texas Chaparrals of the American Basketball Association, who chose him in the 1970 ABA Draft. Patterson re-entered the 1971 NBA Draft and was the first selection of the second round by the expansion Cleveland Cavaliers, and he signed with the Cavaliers. Patterson showed ability as an inside defender and rebounder, but also battled knee problems and never reached his potential as an NBA player. He played five years in Cleveland, mostly as a backup. However, he had his most productive year as primarily a starter in his third season, 1973–74, when he played over 25 minutes per game and averaged 7.8 points, 8.1 rebounds and 2.2 assists, all career highs. That season he also set a personal-best of 22 points in a game, on February 16, 1974 in a win against the Portland Trail Blazers. It was one of three 20-plus games that season for Patterson. In the following season, he topped his career single-game point production with 23 on January 19, 1975 in a loss to the Detroit Pistons. During the 1975-76 season—his fifth and final NBA season—after playing 14 games for the Cavaliers, on November 27, 1975 he was traded along with Eric Fernsten to the Chicago Bulls for Nate Thurmond and Rowland Garrett. He played in 52 games for the Bulls, and the following year was released prior to the season's start. After the NBA, he played one year professionally in Italy.
Patterson spent the last years of his life organizing youth and community sports programs in Arizona, including as founder of the Grand Canyon State Games. He and his wife, Carlette, ran Patterson Sports Ventures, which specialized in marketing for professional athletes, sports philanthropy and sports ministries. He was a gourmet cook, a history buff and a wine connoisseur. Patterson died of lung cancer at home on July 28, 2004 at age 56. He was survived by his wife of seven years, Carlette, their daughter, Makena, and Steve's children John, Brent, Amanda and Sara. A lifelong Christian, Patterson made faith the core of his post-NBA activities and he is remembered at TheGoal.com. The Goal had been his central organization to church-sports activities.
