PBA: Deonte Burton set to replace injured DeQuan Jones at NLEX

FILE–Deonte Burton during his stint with Sacramento Kings in the NBA. Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images/AFP 

MANILA, Philippines–NLEX has tapped a name familiar to coach Jimmy Alapag as a replacement for the injured DeQuan Jones.

Deonte Burton will suit up for the Road Warriors when the 2026 PBA Governors’ Cup resumes in October after Jones went down with a nasty leg injury.

The team made the announcement shortly after Friday’s 112-110 loss to the Converge FiberXers, its final game before the league’s long break.

“Very excited to have him on board,” Alapag said of Burton, whom he coached during his time as an assistant coach with the NBA G-League’s Stockton Kings.

Burton, 32, played two NBA seasons with the Oklahoma City Thunder from 2018 to 2020 and had a short spell with the Sacramento Kings in 2023.

He also played in the Korean Basketball League, including as a teammate of Rhenz Abando with Anyang in 2025, and in Puerto Rico on a number of occasions. His most recent stop was with the Guangzhou Loong Lions of the Chinese Basketball Association.

Alapag expressed confidence that Burton is comparable to Jones, who is known for his strong play and as a good teammate.

“He’s comparable in terms of his explosiveness, the power and the physicality,” said Alapag. “He spent time in the NBA, we spent time together. And hopefully our experience working together would make his transition to the PBA and NLEX smoother.”