The Journey of Deonte Burton and his arrival to the OKC Thunder

The Korean Experience

Once Burton got to Korea, it was clear he was a class above many of his adversaries. His elite athleticism and bulldog-like attitude overwhelmed the majority of the players in the league, allowing him to play bully-ball against taller players who lack the physical strength. Despite being just 6’5, Burton was playing down low with his game looking similar to that of New Orleans Pelicans forward Julius Randle.

In his first game, Burton posted 21 points, six rebounds, two assists, and one block. He struggled shooting the rock overall (8-24 from the field, 2-8 from three) but did have a runaway, one-handed slam on the break.

His best performance came in the 3-point win over The Anyang Korea Ginseng Corporation (KGC). All locked up with less than 15 seconds remaining in the game, Burton drove to the hoop, pulled the ball back, lost his defender and hit a deep triple to win the game (fast forward to 2:40 to see the shot).

Unfortunately, Wonju DB Promy lost in six games to Seoul SK Knights in the Championship round. Burton won MVP that year adding an award that seels his name in Korea League history.