NC State star DJ Burns loses 45 pounds in 6 1/2 weeks
RALEIGH, N.C. (BVM) –NC State star DJ Burns went viral during the NCAA Tournament for his impeccable play and unique size. He led the Wolfpack all the way to the Final Four in a miraculous run.
Burns was hard to miss with his 6-foot-9, 275-pound frame, but he looks a bit different now than he did when he was in the national spotlight. NBA insider Shams Charania reported on the “Run It Back” podcast that the college star has had extreme weight loss.
“DJ Burns told me has lost 45 pounds in the last six and a half weeks,” Charania said. “He told me no Ozempic, he said he’s been doing workouts four days a week at 5 a.m.”
DJ Burns Jr. says he has lost 45 pounds in the last six and a half weeks 🤯
Doing four 5AM workouts a week 😤 pic.twitter.com/Sg1S1GohWi
— The Players' Lounge (@ThPlayersLounge) May 22, 2024
Burns’ weight was not a hindrance at the college level as he put up 18.4 points per game on 64.7% shooting in his first four games of the NCAA Tournament, but in order to get a chance at the NBA, the weight loss was needed.
Sam Vecenie of The Athletic did not rank Burns in his top 100 players in his latest NBA draft big board, so it is still probably a long shot for him to be selected in June, but perhaps now he can receive a tryout or a G League opportunity.
Burns’ game has been compared to three-time MVP Nikola Jokic with his passing ability at his size and he even received the attention of the Denver Nuggets center throughout his tournament run.
Nikola Jokic: CONFIRMED DJ Burns fan @beastboyburns
"I think he's so skilled, especially lefty…seems like teammates like. to play with him. That'd be a good guy."
Joker was watching NC State-Duke before his presser lol pic.twitter.com/XlhAOZQuhd
— RG 📷 (@RyanGreeneDNVR) March 31, 2024
The odds of the NC State legend becoming a star are slim, but there is a trend of NBA teams wanting his type of skill set. If he is now more agile, Burns could have a chance to become a role player at the next level.
