NC State’s DJ Burns Jr. has become a fan favorite over the past few weeks.
The 6-9, 275-pound senior captured the hearts of college basketball fans everywhere as he led the Wolfpack in a race past Duke and North Carolina to take home the ACC Tournament championship. He was named MVP of the ACC tournament with averages of 15.2 points, 4.0 rebounds and 3.4 assists per game.
Burns carried that momentum into the NCAA Tournament, where he averaged 20.0 points, 6.0 rebounds and 2.0 assists while shooting nearly 70 percent from the field in NC State’s wins over Texas Tech and Oakland.
Will Burns’ late-season breakout warrant some NBA Draft attention as the Wolfpack advances to the Sweet 16? The Jugo Mobile takes a closer look below.
DJ Burns Jr. Statistics
| statistics | Average |
| Points | 12.8 |
| Rebounds | 4.1 |
| Assists | 2.7 |
| Blocks | 0.6 |
| steal | 0.5 |
| Field goal % | 52.7 |
| Free shot % | 67.7 |
DJ Burns Jr. Strengths
Burns’ greatest strength is, of course, his size. At 6-9 and 275 pounds, he is a mismatch to walk at the college level.
But Burns isn’t just a bulldozer who backs his opponent up through the post for easy layups. The veteran striker is deceptively quick and light on his feet. He is extremely coordinated with great hands and a soft touch around the rim.
He’s a tactician in the post, hitting bodies and lulling his defender until he hits his patented spin move to finish with his dominant left hand.
DJ Burns Jr. was a PROBLEM in the paint in NC State’s first round win against Texas Tech?
◾️ 16 points
◾️ 7-11 field goals pic.twitter.com/jTcL80DQHp— B/R Hoops (@brhoops) March 22, 2024
Burns isn’t a black hole on the block either. If he can’t get to his spot, he’ll kick it, use his size to get better position, and make himself available for another inbound pass. He has solid court vision and can make plays for his teammates when he is doubled.
DJ Burns Jr. Weaknesses
Burns is a talented offensive weapon, but he doesn’t shoot outside of the paint. Furthermore, as powerful and elegant as it is on the offensive end, the same does not apply on the defensive end.
Burns is physical and has no problem holding his own as a post defender, but he doesn’t have the length, athleticism or verticality to deter opponents from scoring at the rim. Although he has good footwork in attack, he lacks the lateral mobility to defend in space.
Without quick hands to block or steal, Burns is an overall liability defensively. And the tasks won’t be any easier against much faster NBA athletes.
DJ Burns Jr. NBA Mock Draft Projection
Mock Draft Projection: Undrafted free agent
Even with the strong performance Burns has put together between the ACC and NCAA tournaments, it’s hard to believe he’ll be selected, even as a second-round pick.
For comparison, Kenneth Lofton Jr. had a similar build coming out of Louisiana Tech, had more all-around skills, and went undrafted in 2022.
The players who appear on the March Madness stage have a rich history of having the opportunity to prove themselves in the NBA Summer League. Look for Burns to be chosen as an undrafted free agent and suit up for some team in Las Vegas in July.
Comparison of NBA Players to DJ Burns Jr.
Play like: Zach Randolph
Since then Charles Barkley made the comparison Between the two great lefties, it’s hard to miss.
Burns and Randolph are similar in size: Burns is 6-9, 275 pounds. while Randolph was 6-9, 250 pounds. – and have the same soft touch and smooth footwork.
However, this does not mean that Burns will be Randolph in the NBA. Randolph was a two-time All-Star who averaged 16.6 points and 9.1 rebounds in his career and had five seasons in which he averaged a 20-point double-double. He also played 17 outstanding seasons in the league.
It’s more of a comparison of height and playing style than a projection of who Burns could become.
