DJ Burns has gone from NCAA tournament hero to the Cleveland Cavaliers’ Summer League team.
The NC State big man went undrafted in the 2024 NBA Draft, which concluded with the second round on Thursday. Shortly after, Chris Fedor of cleveland.com reported that he would join the Cavaliers.
Burns was seen as a late second-round prospect at best, though he will have a large following in his quest to make an NBA team. The South Carolina native became a viral star when he showed impressive touch and footwork as the Wolfpack improbably reached the Final Four, where they lost to Purdue.
Part of the reason Burns became so popular was a frame that stood at a conservative 6-foot-9, 275 pounds, but he opted to make a change for the draft. As he explained to Matt Norlander of CBS Sports, he lost 45 pounds in the two-month period.
It sounded like quite a journey:
“It’s been the most interesting experience of my entire life,” Burns said. “I don’t think I’ve ever had to work so hard and be so disciplined. And I think everything I’ve learned is something that I can take with me to the league or wherever I go to play basketball. I’m just ready I don’t think I’ve ever understood what to do better than I do now.’
Burns averaged 12.7 points, 4.4 rebounds and 2.2 assists per game and had a 54.4% shooting percentage in two seasons at NC State, where he transferred after three seasons at Winthrop.
It will be a challenge for him to break into the NBA, where he will be undersized as a center and vulnerable to faster wings at forward. He also attempted a few three-pointers in college, meaning he’ll have a lot to overcome if he wants to see minutes.
But for now, he can show fans a little more of what they saw in March during Summer League.
