OKC Thunder: Opportunity knocks for Deonte Burton and Tyler Davis

Prepping for the pros:

While Tyler Davis was concluding his respectable collegiate career in 2018, Deonte Burton was on the other side of the globe in South Korea extending his playing days beyond his four years between Marquette and Iowa State. But despite their different routes, they both ended up as teammates in the same situation.

Davis’ time with the Aggies could be best described as consistent. He played over 30 games each of his three season, scoring 11 points per game his first year and just over 14 points in his final two years. His shooting was still a work in progress, going 61 percent from the field for his career and 64 percent from the charity strip, but his 7.4 rebounds per game created more opportunities for his team.

Things didn’t get off to a good start for Burton at Marquette, scoring under 10 points a game his first two seasons. But that changed when he transferred to Iowa State, as Burton’s numbers increased along with his minutes. Burton averaged 11. 9 points in just under 30 minutes a game.

Still unrefined, Burton never stood out as a shooter or even a scorer in general, but his athleticism and defensive prowess kept him in the game. He shot an underwhelming 45 percent from the field, 37 percent from beyond the arc and was just a 67 percent shooter from the line. Shooting woes aside, he managed to accumulate over six rebounds and nearly a pair of steals per game. His vertical doesn’t hurt either.