Busting Brackets
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NCAA Basketball: Current 2019-20 NBA teammates who played in college together

By Bill McCarthy

INDIANAPOLIS, IN - APRIL 04: Tyus Jones #5 of the Duke Blue Devils gives instructions to his teammate Grayson Allen #3 of the Duke Blue Devils during the game against the Michigan State Spartans during the NCAA Men's Final Four Semifinal at Lucas Oil Stadium on April 4, 2015 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS, IN - APRIL 04: Tyus Jones #5 of the Duke Blue Devils gives instructions to his teammate Grayson Allen #3 of the Duke Blue Devils during the game against the Michigan State Spartans during the NCAA Men's Final Four Semifinal at Lucas Oil Stadium on April 4, 2015 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images) /
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AMES, IA – JANUARY 25: Frank Mason III #0 of the Kansas Jayhawks drives then ball as Deonte Burton #30, Monte Morris #11 of the Iowa State Cyclones, and Abdel Nader #2 of the Iowa State Cyclones (Photo by David Purdy/Getty Images)
AMES, IA – JANUARY 25: Frank Mason III #0 of the Kansas Jayhawks drives then ball as Deonte Burton #30, Monte Morris #11 of the Iowa State Cyclones, and Abdel Nader #2 of the Iowa State Cyclones (Photo by David Purdy/Getty Images) /

The Oklahoma City Cyclones

Duo: Deonte Burton and Abdel Nader

NBA team: Oklahoma City Thunder

College team: Iowa State Cyclones, 2015-16

NCAA Tournament finish: Sweet 16

In the summer of 2018, Oklahoma City became home to two former Iowa State Cyclones when the Thunder traded for Abdel Nader and signed undrafted rookie Deonte Burton.

Nader, the No. 58 overall pick in the 2016 NBA draft, got his start with the Boston Celtics. Through the Thunder’s first 56 games this season, he’s averaging 5.8 points in just over 15 minutes per contest, according to Basketball-Reference.

Burton has seen the floor less often, floating between the G-League and the NBA and playing roughly eight minutes per game in his NBA action.

In college, the pair helped lead a loaded 2015-16 Iowa State team — which also included NBA players Georges Niang, Monte Morris, Matt Thomas and Naz Mitrou-Long — to the NCAA Tournament’s Sweet 16 as a No. 4 seed.

Both Nader and Burton had transferred to Iowa State after two seasons at different universities. In 2015-16, Nader was a senior and all-around scoring threat, while Burton was a junior whose explosive dunks captivated the college basketball world.

Nader averaged 12.9 points, five rebounds and 1.5 assists during that season, while Burton added 9.7 points, 3.9 rebounds and one assist per game, according to Sports Reference.

The following season, with Nader and Niang both gone to the NBA, Burton poured in 15.1 points, 6.2 rebounds, 1.8 assists 1.7 steals and 1.4 blocks per night. His elevated performances earned him a spot on the All-Big-12 third team and the All-Big-12 Tournament first team.

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