33 Daniel Orton

Daniel Joseph Orton was born August 6, 1990 to Carolyn and Larry Orton in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.  Orton played for Bishop McGuinness High School in Oklahoma City. Bishop McGuinness won the class 4A state championship Orton’s freshman, sophomore, and junior year.  During his senior season, he tore his anterior cruciate ligament in his knee, cutting his final season of high school basketball short. He averaged 14 points, 11 rebounds and 5 blocks per game as a junior.

Considered a five-star recruit by Rivals.com, Orton was listed as the No. 4 center and the No. 22 player in the nation in 2009.  Orton participated in the 2009 Wazoo Sports Derby Festival Basketball Classic, where he scored 12 points and played in the 2009 Jordan Brand Classic.

He was recruited to the University of Kentucky by Billy Gillispie; however, Gillispie was fired following Orton’s senior season. Orton kept his commitment to Kentucky after John Calipari was hired by the university.  He signed with Kentucky on October 13, 2008. 

Orton was a reserve on the 2009–10 Kentucky Wildcats basketball team, where he averaged 3.4 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 1.4 blocks in 13.2 minutes per game. On May 8, 2010, Orton hired an agent and declared himself eligible for the 2010 NBA draft.

With the 29th overall picking the first round of 2010 NBA draft, the Orlando Magic selected Daniel Orton. On July 1, 2010, Orton signed his rookie contract with the Magic.  On December 1, 2010, it was announced that Orton would be sent to the New Mexico Thunderbirds of the NBA Development League.  In his second game for the Thunderbirds, Orton suffered a season-ending knee injury.

Orton made his NBA debut on January 27, 2012.  Orton played 3 seasons for 3 teams. His career averages were 2.8 points, 2.5 rebounds, and 0.5 assists in 51 regular season games.