NLEX taps ex-NBA player and Alapag acquaintance Deonte Burton as new import

MANILA, Philippines -- NLEX head coach Jimmy Alapag is banking on familiarity as the Road Warriors tapped Deonte Burton to be the team’s foreign reinforcement moving forward.

NLEX announced Burton as the team’s new import following their narrow 110-112 loss against the Converge FiberXers Friday evening.

The Road Warriors did not field an import in that game, as they lost DeQuan Jones to a gruesome injury their previous assignment.

Alapag handled Burton during his time as an assistant coach with the Stockton Kings back in 2022-23, and the Sacramento Kings in 2023.

“Mr. Burton. He'll be making his PBA debut after the break. Looking forward to having him. We spent time together in the G League and with the Kings. So, excited to have him on board,” Alapag told reporters.

“I think he is very comparable [to Jones.] You know, in terms of just, his explosiveness, the power, the physicality. He spent some time in the NBA and we spent time together,” he added.

Burton played three seasons in the NBA, playing a total of 73 games in his stints with the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Kings.

The 6-foot-4 forward also saw action in Puerto Rico, Korea and China.

“So, hopefully, hopefully, our experience working together in the past, hopefully that makes his transition to the PBA and with NLEX a little smoother than it would be with an import that hasn't played here before. So, excited to have him on board.”

NLEX is heading to the months-long break with a 7-2 win-loss record, sharing the lead of Group A with San Miguel.