Former Arizona State Player Isaac Burton Jr. Now Works as a Basketball Referee After a Storied Playing Career

From NBL star to Cyprus champion, Burton built a remarkable basketball career.

October 21, 2026

This article was last updated by Alisha Shrestha on October 14, 2026

After his playing days and college scandal, Isaac Burton Jr. now remains active in basketball.

Isaac “Ice” Burton Jr. carved out a remarkable basketball career despite emerging from the tough streets of Los Angeles, where his brother was killed as a gang member during Burton’s childhood.

A multi-sport athlete who excelled in both baseball and basketball at Washington Preparatory High School, Burton was drafted three times by MLB teams—twice by the Cincinnati Reds and once by the Seattle Mariners. However, basketball ultimately became his professional path.

After dominating at East Los Angeles College, where he averaged 24 points, 11 rebounds, five steals, and three assists in his sophomore season, Burton earned a scholarship to Arizona State University.

He made an immediate impact, scoring 28 points on debut—a record that still stands for the Sun Devils.

Burton’s electrifying playing style, characterized by quick hands and smart footwork, made him one of the premier defenders in the National Basketball League (NBL).

His professional career spanned from 1996 to 2008, including four seasons in the NBL where he averaged 21.3 points, 5.9 rebounds, and 4 assists across 96 games, becoming the first Sydney King to win NBL Defensive Player of the Year in 1996.

Isaac Burton Jr. Now Gives Back to the Game

Today, Isaac Burton Jr. has transitioned from player to official, working as a basketball referee in Los Angeles.

According to basketball database , which updated his profile in September 2026, officiating has become his current occupation following his retirement from professional play.

While specific details about which leagues he referees for remain undisclosed in public records, Burton’s intimate knowledge of the game—gained through years of elite competition—positions him uniquely to enforce rules and maintain fair play on the court.

This career shift represents a full-circle moment for Burton, who remains connected to the sport that defined his adult life despite the shadow cast by his involvement in the 1993-94 Arizona State point-shaving scandal.

During that infamous episode, Burton accepted $4,300 in bribes to intentionally miss free throws in four games, admitting he was recruited by teammate Stevin “Hedake” Smith to help fix games against Oregon, Oregon State, USC, and Washington.

Burton later reflected on his decision with candor, explaining that his difficult upbringing influenced his choice:

The consequences proved severe and long-lasting. Burton pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit sports bribery and received a sentence in June 1999 that included two months in jail, six months of home detention, and three years’ probation.

The scandal effectively derailed what could have been an NBA career, as Burton was playing in the Continental Basketball Association at the time the investigation became public.

Despite this setback, he rebuilt his professional life overseas, spending the majority of his post-NBL career in Cyprus from 2002 to 2008, where he continued to showcase the scoring and defensive abilities that made him special.

He led Apoel to a rare triple crown in 2001-02, winning the League, Cup, and Supercup titles, and earned multiple all-defensive team selections while consistently ranking among the league leaders in scoring and steals.

Burton’s current role as a referee suggests he has found a way to contribute positively to basketball while atoning for past mistakes.

The position requires integrity, judgment, and a comprehensive understanding of the game—qualities that Burton appears committed to demonstrating in this second chapter of his basketball life.

His journey from talented prospect to convicted felon to overseas star to local official illustrates both the consequences of poor decisions and the possibility of redemption through dedication to the sport he once compromised.

In Case You Didn’t Know

• Isaac has a son named Te’Shon Burton, who played college basketball at Bellevue University, and a nephew named Deonte, who played with the Bendigo Braves during the 2019 NBL1 season.

• Burton was honored by being selected to the Drew League 40th Anniversary Team in 2013, recognizing his impact on one of the most prestigious pro-am basketball leagues in Los Angeles.

• During the 1997 NBL season, Burton recorded an extraordinary stat line of 44 points, nine rebounds, eight assists, and seven steals in a single game against the Illawarra Hawks, coming remarkably close to one of basketball’s rarest accomplishments.

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