How NC State’s DJ Burns shed 45 pounds to prepare for the 2024 NBA Draft after starring in March Madness

RALEIGH, N.C. — Few players in recent memory have done more with unexpected opportunities afforded to them like DJ Burns has over the past three-plus months. The NC State star became one of the biggest deals in college sports after the Wolfpack won nine straight elimination games in March and made arguably the most unexpected Final Four run in the history of college basketball. 

Remember, Burns and the Wolfpack were 17-14 at the end of the regular season. They trailed at halftime to god-awful Louisville in the first round of the ACC Tournament before flipping the switch and saving/extending their season. Then came the dream push all the way to Phoenix for the Final Four as a No. 11 seed. It’s a vintage college basketball story, one basketball fans will harken back to decades from now. 

At the center of that story was Burns, the benevolent big-bodied center with balletic feet, gentle touch and keen passing ability. He was easy to love and, let us not forget, an at-times dominant presence. Burns described the Final Four run as “an out of body experience” and, surprisingly, one that he didn’t take full advantage of.

“I didn’t really enjoy it as much as I should have,” he told CBS Sports. “I was going straight back to the room, just trying to stay out of anything that could be in the way. I would definitely have enjoyed it a little more if I could do it again.”

Pretty interesting to hear that from a guy who became one of the faces of a sport for a three-week period. Burns embodied of the power of the NCAA Tournament’s marketing appeal.

“I didn’t really enjoy it as much as I should have.”

DJ Burns on the Final Four experience

State’s run ended vs. Purdue in the Final Four, but Burns’ story is not over. He’s considered a long shot to be picked in the second round of Thursday’s NBA Draft, but he still has a bright future and potentially long professional career awaiting him. The reason for that has as much to do with his college career as what he’s done since it ended on April 6.

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Source link : https://www.cbssports.com/nba/news/how-nc-states-dj-burns-shed-45-pounds-to-prepare-for-the-2024-nba-draft-after-starring-in-march-madness/

Author : Matt Norlander

Publish date : 2024-06-25 20:34:51

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