Villanova in the Pros: Tyler Burton Makes NBA Debut

Villanova product Tyler Burton made his NBA debut on Thursday, March 12 after the Memphis Grizzlies promoted him from their G-League affiliate for a 10-day contract. 

Burton played 56 minutes across two games of a back-to-back on March 12 and March 13, averaging 3.5 points and three rebounds and adding one assist, one steal and one block between those games. Burton’s shots aren’t falling right now, although the Grizzlies are giving him opportunities. He made just two of 18 shots across those games, both from beyond the arc (two-of-12).

A 6-foot-7, 215 pound forward, he played the first four seasons of his college career at Richmond before transferring to Villanova ahead of the 2023-24 season, where he averaged 7.5 points and 6.1 rebounds per game before going unselected in the 2024 NBA Draft.

The Grizzlies are dealing with a rash of injuries, allowing them to promote Burton with a hardship exemption that preserves roster flexibility. While a 10-day contract suggests he won’t stick with Memphis for long in this current stint, Burton’s status as the next man up indicates he could worm his way onto an active roster in the coming seasons. Fellow Villanova product Collin Gillespie toiled in the G-League for parts of three seasons before catching on with the Phoenix Suns.

Burton is one of two Wildcats’ alumni in the Grizzlies’ system: Eric Dixon, the program’s all-time scoring leader, plays for their G-League affiliate, the Memphis Hustle.