When a generational talent enters the league, they are usually one-of-one. No one is able to be compared to them due to just how freakishly athletic they are given their build. Zion Williamson was a prime example of this before getting drafted by the New Orleans Pelicans. There were not a lot of bulky guys who could jump out of the gym quite like him in high school and even at Duke. But, Los Angeles Clippers star Paul George does have someone in mind. It's a former teammate of his in the Oklahoma City Thunder system, via Podcast P presented by Wave Sports + Entertainment.
“My time in Oklahoma City, there was a kid named Deonte Burton. You probably don't know who he is. I used to ask ‘ Why don't we play him?', I swear. I used to be like ‘Why don't we give him minutes?' because he played some games where guys went down and they'd plug him in garbage time or plug him in spurt moments. But, I used to see him in practice and his G League games. He was like Zion before Zion,” the Clippers declared.
Slim chances in the late 2010s Thunder roster
Paul George was part of the Thunder system for two seasons from 2017 to 2019 before he ended up teaming up with Kawhi Leonard in the Clippers. Deonte Burton, on the other hand, had come into the league during the Thunder's 2018 campaign. He spent one more season with them after George left before falling out of the league.
Eventually, Burton found his way back and joined the Sacramento Kings for their 2022-23 run. But, that stint was short-lived because he was just on the roster for two games. Throughout both stints, he was on an NBA court for 73 games with 71 of them spent with the Thunder. His meager playing time allocation which amounted to 8.2 minutes per game only got him 2.5 points a night with a 36.4% clip from all three levels of scoring. He also racked up 1.2 rebounds a night throughout his time in the league.
So, where does the Clippers star get his comparison from?
It all has to do with the athletic gifts that Paul George saw in the former Thunder player. Most of them were very reminiscent of Zion Williamson and it might still hold true today.
“He had that physique, more muscular though. He would jump out of the gym and is strong as a nog, will lock your a** up. If you YouTube him, Deonte Burton, you would be like goddamn. Iowa State, he was a guy that was just like ‘Damn, that's just how the NBA is like.' If you don't get a chance, you're kind of a**ed out. It's hard to get into this game. If you don't get a chance to get into this game, they won't see how good you are,” the Clippers forward added about his comparison to the Pelicans star.
Burton now plays for the Mets de Guaynabo of the Baloncesto Superior Nacional in Puerto Rico. He is currently in the B League but occasionally catches up with other league superstars just like George.
Do you think Pelicans star Zion Williamson and him share any more similarities?
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