DJ Burns went from NCAA tournament hero to the Cleveland Cavaliers’ Summer League team.
The NC State center went undrafted in the 2024 NBA Draft, which concluded with the second round on Thursday. Shortly after, he was Reported by Chris Fedor of cleveland.com to join the Cavaliers.
Burns was viewed as a second-round prospect at best, though he will have his share of fans in his quest to make an NBA team. The South Carolina native became a viral star by displaying impressive touch and footwork while the Wolfpack improbably made it to the Final Four, where they lost to Purdue.
Part of the reason Burns became so popular was his frame, which was listed as a conservative 6-foot-9, 275-pound frame, but he opted to make a trade for the draft. As he explained to Matt Norlander of CBS Sportslost 45 pounds in the span of two months.
It seemed like quite a trip:
“It’s been the most interesting experience of my entire life,” Burns said. “I don’t think I’ve ever had to work that hard and be that disciplined. And I think everything I’ve learned is something I can take with me into the league or wherever I end up playing basketball, specifically preparing for the draft. I’m just ready. I don’t think I’ve ever had a better understanding of what I have to do now.”
Burns averaged 12.7 points, 4.4 rebounds and 2.2 assists per game while shooting 54.4% from the field in two seasons at NC State, where he transferred after three seasons at Winthrop.
It will be a challenge for him to enter the NBA, where he will be undersized as a center and vulnerable to faster wings at power forward. He also attempted a few three-pointers in college, which means he will have a lot to overcome if he wants to get minutes.
But for now, it can give fans a little more of what they enjoyed in March while in Summer League.
