Will Barton

The player who traded his draft stock for a legacy as Denver's all-time three-point leader.

William Norman Barton III, born January 6, 1991, is an American former professional basketball player and current assistant coach for the Iowa Wolves of the NBA G League. After playing college basketball at Memphis, where he earned Conference USA Player of the Year honors in 2012, he was selected 40th overall by the Portland Trail Blazers. His professional journey included stints with Idaho Stampede before joining Denver in 2015, where he became a franchise leader in three-pointers made. He also played for the Washington Wizards and Toronto Raptors before retiring from professional basketball on April 24, 2025.

Quick Facts

Position: Assistant coach
League: NBA G League
Team: Iowa Wolves
Born: 6 January 1991
Birthplace: Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.
College: Memphis (2010–2012)
Draft round: 2
Draft pick: 40

Lore & Background

Barton's time with the Denver Nuggets began on February 19, 2015, when he was acquired alongside Víctor Claver and Thomas Robinson in exchange for Arron Afflalo and Alonzo Gee. After re-signing on August 7, 2015, he immediately made his mark, scoring a career-high 26 points against the Houston Rockets before topping that with 32 points against the New Orleans Pelicans later that December. His resilience was tested during the 2016–17 season when he missed games due to a sprained left ankle and personal reasons, yet returned to score a then-season-high 31 points against Dallas on February 6, 2017. The defining moment of his career arrived on March 16, 2017, when he scored a career-high 35 points in a win over the Los Angeles Clippers. Years later, on March 4, 2022, Barton cemented his place in Denver history by making his 769th three-pointer against Houston, surpassing J.R. Smith as the franchise's all-time leader.

Reader's Guide

For fans tracking Barton's trajectory, his path from a raw high school talent rated No. 6 nationally in 2010 to a G League assistant coach is marked by specific turning points. He attended four schools in five years before enrolling at Brewster Academy as a senior, eventually choosing Memphis over Arizona and Kentucky. In Denver, he evolved into the franchise's three-point leader, a stat solidified on March 4, 2022. His legacy is defined not just by stats, but by specific records set against teams like the Lakers, Clippers, and Bulls, and his transition to coaching the Iowa Wolves on October 8, 2025.

Did You Know?

Barton earned the nickname 'people's champ' after a spontaneous chant broke out during a game against the Brooklyn Nets in February 2014.
Barton attended four different high schools in five years, including a year at Brewster Academy to finish as a senior in 2009–10.
He signed with CSKA Moscow on January 29, 2024, but left the team before playing a single game for them.
Barton announced his retirement from professional basketball on April 24, 2025, shortly after signing with Atléticos de San Germán.