Will Barton

Will Barton's Biography

William Norman Barton III is a talented professional basketball player originating from the United States. Born on January 6, 1991, his promising career in the game showcases an impressive trajectory of active participation with teams participating in major leagues all over the world. His recent participation is with the Guangdong Southern Tigers, a noteworthy team in the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA).

Barton’s origin in the sport can be traced back to the local courts at Baltimore City College where he revealed his basketball prowess, crowning him kudos from scouts nationwide. The National Christian Academy in Fort Washington was his next boulevard where he repeated his sophomore years to enhance his potentials.

Before developing into a senior, William enrolled at Baltimore’s Lake Clifton Eastern High School and then proceeded to Brewster Academy in 2009-10. His impressive skills and competitive spirit earned him the title of the No.6 rated player across the nation in 2010. Moreover, he was positioned as the best shooting guard by ESPN.com and Scout.com, thus paving his path to Memphis overriding offers from teams like Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, Villanova, and Arizona.

Barton’s eventful journey in Memphis started in 2010 where he didn’t miss a single game in his first season. Leading in scoring and clocking 30.6 minutes per record on an average, his commendable performance had him acknowledged as the Conference USA Basketball Player of the Year in 2012. Deciding to opt-out from his final two years of eligibility, he put his name forward for the 2012 NBA draft, and his talent gleamed through when he was selected 40th overall by the Portland Trail Blazers.

After brief periods with the Idaho Stampede of NBA G league, he earned a place with the Denver Nuggets, a name every Basketball enthusiast recognizes, in 2015. His dedicated tenure with them rewarded him as an in-house leader in three-pointers. Meanwhile, his outstanding strategies and demonstration of skills on the court made his efforts recognized many times including a memorable game against Brooklyn Nets that awarded him a season-high score and a career-high rebound.

One of his prominent career highlight came when he was traded alongside trusted allies Víctor Claver, Thomas Robinson, and a lottery-protected first-round 2016 allotment to the Denver Nuggets from the Trail Blazers. He established himself as a regular with consistent performances and even achieved personal accolades on certain occasions such as scoring a career-high 35 points in a match against the Los Angeles Clippers in 2017.

William Barton witnessed a setback with his recurring left ankle injuries that restricted his games in the 2016-17 season, but he bounced back with season highs in the following matches with impeccable prowess. After a minor period of inconsistency due to injuries, his career took a welcomed turn when he re-signed a contract with the Nuggets on July 9, 2018.

A sorrowful hip injury cast a shadow over his contributions to the season, but he returned to action with his usual vigor. This stint saw him smashing records, eventually surpassing the legendary J.R Smith as the franchise’s all-time leader in made three-pointers, putting him up there with the greats of the game.

A homecoming of sorts was witnessed in July 2022 when Barton was traded by Denver Nuggets, alongside Monté Morris, to the Washington Wizards in return for Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Ish Smith. He shone brightly in his Wizards debut game by registering 14 points, three assists, and two rebounds.

However, his time at the Wizards was short-lived as he secured a contract buyout agreement and transferred to the Toronto Raptors in February 2023. As a true nomad of the sport, Barton’s journey continued to the VTB United League signing with CSKA Moscow in January 2024. Unfortunately, this association never saw William play a game for Moscow as he moved on shortly after to join Covirán Granada in the Spanish ACB, marking his first experience playing in Europe.

Barton took another step in his journey when he signed with the Cangrejeros de Santurce of the Baloncesto Superior Nacional on May 3, 2024. Shortly after, he found himself signing a contract with the Guangdong Southern Tigers of the Chinese Basketball Association on September 6, 2024.

William Norman Barton III, right from his promising start in Baltimore to his achievements in the CBA, has been a true ambassador of the game. The game and enthusiasts worldwide will always remember him for his sheer dedication, ability to adapt, and defy odds to make his mark in the sport of Basketball. His journey serves as a testament, an inspiration to countless basketball lovers yearning to leave their mark, much like the legacy of Barton himself.