After a prolific return to the Kingdom Summer League, Trey Burke shared his career plans and an honor the University of Michigan is planning for him.
It’s more than just the love of the game that keeps Trey Burke coming back to the court.
On July 27, the nine-year NBA veteran by way of Northland High School and the University of Michigan was on one of the two courts inside New Covenant Believers’ Church. He was suited up to play in the Kingdom Summer League.
Burke has been playing professionally in China and Puerto Rico, but the goal remains to return to the NBA. His last action in the league was 42 games for the Dallas Mavericks during the 2021-22 season. Sunday was another step that put distance between the No. 9 pick in the 2013 NBA Draft and the torn Achilles he suffered in December 2023. The injury raised doubts about whether he could continue playing basketball.
By the end of his 2025 Kingdom debut, Burke had put up 32 points on 14-of-23 shooting, a reminder of the potential still in his 32-year-old body.
“I’m just glad to be back on the court,” he said after a 125-92 win. “I think my story is going to help the next generation. I still love the game. I still glorify God through the game, and as long as I can do that and give Him the glory through the game, I’m going to keep playing it.”
After suffering the Achilles injury, it took Burke five or six months before he started to feel like himself again, he said. He was going through physical therapy and putting up shots daily while wearing a walking boot. In February 2025, Burke signed to play professionally in China, where he was for about two months before signing with a team in Puerto Rico just as the playoffs were getting underway there.
A meniscus strain ended his tenure in Puerto Rico soon after he arrived, but Burke said he used the opportunity to return home and fully attack his rehab.
“I feel great,” he said. “I’ve got some veteran workouts for some NBA teams coming up. My goal is to get back in the League. That’s my goal.”
Burke has regularly made appearances at the Kingdom throughout his professional career, giving him the chance to showcase his skills in his hometown. In his first game this year, Burke had two first-half steals that he turned into uncontested layups and took over the game during a three-minute second-half stretch.
After hitting consecutive deep 3-pointers from nearly the same spot on the right wing, he connected on a drive to the basket before drilling another 3, giving him a personal 11-0 scoring run.
“I’m still playing at a high level,” he said. “I’m just glad to be back on the court.”
Soon, his jersey will hang above the home court from his college days. After being named the Big Ten’s Freshman of the Year in 2011-12, Burke was the consensus National Player of the Year and a first-team All-American for the Wolverines in 2012-13. This year, North Carolina transfer guard Elliot Cadeau will wear Burke’s No. 3 jersey, but he might be the last.
Burke said he has been told that Michigan will soon be retiring his jersey.
“We haven’t come up with a date yet, but it’s going to happen,” he said. “Bucket list for me. Dream come true. Who would’ve thought a kid from Columbus, Ohio, was going to get his jersey retired at Michigan? It’s a great story, man, and it’s still being written.”
Ohio State men's basketball beat writer Adam Jardy can be reached at [email protected], on Bluesky at @cdadamjardy.bsky.social or on Twitter at @AdamJardy.
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This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Trey Burke shines in Kingdom League while chasing return to NBA
Category: General Sports
