Andrew Pace
Will Barton, also known as Will Burton, is a professional basketball player who most recently signed with the Atléticos de San Germán of the Baloncesto Superior Nacional (BSN) for the 2025 season. He previously played for the Guangdong Southern Tigers of the Chinese Basketball Association and has also played for the Denver Nuggets and the Portland Trail Blazers, who nicknamed him the people's champ. In April 2025, Barton announced his retirement from basketball. Another player named Willie Burton, nicknamed Moose, played for the Miami Heat and last played in 1999.
Explore related products
What You'll Learn
Will Barton's career stats and earnings
Will Barton, also known as "The People's Champ" and "Thrill", is a shooting guard and small forward for the Toronto Raptors. He was born on 6 January 1991 in Baltimore, Maryland, and attended Brewster Academy in Wolfeboro, New Hampshire, before going on to play for Memphis in college.
Barton was drafted in the second round (10th pick, 40th overall) by the Portland Trail Blazers in the 2012 NBA Draft, and made his NBA debut on 2 November 2012. Over his 11-year career, Barton has played for the Blazers, the Denver Nuggets, and the Washington Wizards, with whom he is currently under contract.
As of 2023, Barton's career earnings are estimated to be $81,869,184 ($97,991,498*)*. His current contract with the Wizards is for 2 years and $30 million, with an average salary of $15 million. Prior to this, he signed a 4-year, $53 million contract with the Nuggets in 2018, and a 1-year, $684,712 contract with the Blazers in 2015.
In his career, Barton has averaged 11.2 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 2.7 assists per game, while shooting 43.0% from the field, 35.5% from three-point range, and 78.7% from the free-throw line.
Elon University Men's Basketball: Division I Athletics
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Will Barton's career at the Denver Nuggets
Will Barton, also known as "The People's Champ" and "Thrill", played for the Denver Nuggets for 7 seasons, from 2015 to 2022. He was a shooting guard and small forward, standing at 6-foot-5 (196 cm) and weighing 181 lb (82 kg).
Barton was traded to the Denver Nuggets from the Portland Trail Blazers on February 19, 2015, along with Víctor Claver, Thomas Robinson, and a lottery-protected 2016 first-round pick, in exchange for Arron Afflalo and Alonzo Gee. He re-signed with the Nuggets on August 7, 2015. On November 13, 2015, he scored a then career-high 26 points in a 107–98 win over the Houston Rockets.
Barton's 2016-17 season was disrupted by injuries, including a sprained left ankle that caused him to miss nine games. Despite this, he had several strong performances, including a 31-point outing against the Dallas Mavericks on February 6, 2017, and a career-high 35 points against the Los Angeles Clippers on March 16, 2017.
The 2017-18 season saw Barton continue his good form, with season highs of 26 points and nine rebounds in a win over the Orlando Magic on November 11, 2017. On November 30, 2017, he scored a career-high 37 points to lead the Nuggets to a 111–110 win over the Chicago Bulls. However, his 2018-19 season was disrupted by a right hip injury, causing him to miss the majority of the season.
Barton continued to be a key contributor for the Nuggets in the following seasons, surpassing J.R. Smith as the franchise's all-time leader in made three-pointers on March 4, 2022. On July 6, 2022, Barton was traded to the Washington Wizards, bringing an end to his successful 7-season stint with the Denver Nuggets.
Backboard Use: Friend or Foe to Basketball Players?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Will Barton's retirement
Will Barton, the former Memphis basketball star, has announced his retirement from professional basketball, bringing an end to a 13-year career, 11 of which were spent in the NBA. The 34-year-old guard, nicknamed "The Thrill", spent time with four NBA teams during his career, including an eight-season tenure with the Denver Nuggets.
Barton was a highly-rated player coming out of high school, with both Scout.com and ESPN.com rating him as the best shooting guard in 2010. He chose to attend Memphis, where he played every game in his freshman season, leading the Tigers in minutes per game with 30.6 and scoring 12.3 points per game. He had a breakout sophomore season, leading the team in points per game (18.0) and rebounds per game (8.0), winning C-USA Player of the Year.
Barton was drafted to the Portland Trail Blazers in 2012, where he spent the first two and a half years of his NBA career. He was then traded to the Denver Nuggets in February 2015, where he would spend the majority of his career, playing seven-plus seasons with the team. During his time with the Nuggets, Barton had some of the best performances of his career, including a 37-point outing against the Chicago Bulls in November 2017, and a 25-point performance against the Golden State Warriors in February 2018. He also twice finished fourth in Sixth Man of the Year voting, in 2016 and 2018.
Barton's final season in the NBA was spent with the Toronto Raptors during the 2022-23 season. He then played for the Guangdong Southern Tigers in the Chinese Basketball Association before announcing his retirement. Reflecting on his career, Barton wrote on Instagram, "13 years pro. 11 years in the NBA. Man, where did the time go? Crazy when I was young I never saw the end in my vision. But here we are. Man, what a time I promise it was everything I dreamed of plus way more."
March Madness: Sweet 12 Men's Basketball Teams Revealed!
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Willie Burton's career stats and earnings
Willie Ricardo Burton, born on May 26, 1968, in Detroit, Michigan, is a former American professional basketball player. Standing at 6'8" (203 cm) tall and weighing 210 lbs (95 kg), Burton played as a small forward and was drafted by the Miami Heat in the first round (9th overall pick) of the 1990 NBA Draft.
During his high school career at Saint Martin De Porres in Detroit, Burton helped lead his team to the Michigan Class C state championship in 1985 and 1986. He then attended the University of Minnesota, where he excelled as a member of the Golden Gophers basketball team. In his junior year, the team reached the Sweet Sixteen, and during his senior season, they advanced to the Elite Eight. Burton finished his college career as the Golden Gophers' second all-time leading scorer, with 1,800 points.
After being drafted by the Miami Heat in 1990, Burton played for numerous NBA teams until 1999, including the Philadelphia 76ers, Atlanta Hawks, San Antonio Spurs, Charlotte Hornets, and the Greek team Panathinaikos. He also played in Europe for several seasons. Over his NBA career, Burton averaged 10.3 points, 2.9 rebounds, and 1.2 assists per game. His highest-scoring season came in the 1994-95 season with the Philadelphia 76ers, when he averaged 14.1 points per game.
In terms of earnings, it is estimated that Burton made at least $6,655,500 during his professional basketball career, including a salary of $2,000,000 in 1991. When adjusted for inflation, his total earnings amount to $15,564,609.
NFL vs. Basketball: Which Sport Reigns Supreme?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Willie Burton's career at the Charlotte Hornets
Willie Burton played for the Charlotte Hornets during his prolific NBA career, which saw him play for five different teams between 1990 and 1999. Burton was a talented basketball player from a young age, winning two Michigan Class C State Championships while at Saint Martin De Porres High School in Detroit. He then went on to attend the University of Minnesota, where he excelled, reaching the NCAA Sweet Sixteen and the Elite Eight.
After college, Burton was selected by the Miami Heat in the first round of the 1990 NBA draft, marking the start of his professional career. Over the next nine years, he played for a number of NBA teams, including the Philadelphia 76ers, Atlanta Hawks, and San Antonio Spurs, in addition to his time with the Hornets.
Although specific details of his time with the Charlotte Hornets are scarce, it is clear that Burton was a well-respected and successful player. He is a current NBA record holder and has been inducted into the Catholic High School and University of Minnesota Halls of Fame. He also had his number 34 retired by the University of Minnesota, honouring his impressive college career.
Since retiring from professional basketball, Burton has remained active in the sports world. He is a nationally interscholastic certified coach and athletic administrator, and he founded Excel U, a program that empowers students and student-athletes to make positive decisions and achieve their desired outcomes. Burton also serves on the Board of Directors at the Michigan Physical Fitness Foundation and was appointed to the Michigan Governor's Council on Physical Fitness, Health, and Sports in 2020.
Understanding Basketball Scoring: Points and Strategies
You may want to see also
