6ft 9in, 275 lbs March Madness icon loved by Nikola Jokic is now big star in South Korea
DJ Burns was the biggest star at The Dance last year. The 6ft 9in big man was a larger than life star for NC State in 2024, helping the Wolfpack get to the NCAA Tournament in the first place by winning the ACC tournament and being crowned MVP of the Championship Game. Burns played for NC State who enjoyed a Cinderella run in 2024Getty Burns quickly became America’s new favourite hero, and was part of the Cinderella NC State team who punched their ticket to the Final Four for the first time since winning the 1983 national championship. The Wolfpack’s Cinderella run through March Madness saw them win nine straight elimination games through the ACC and NCAA Tournaments. Before that, Burns attended York Prep Academy in Rock Hill, South Carolina and was a four-star recruit and the No. 3 prospect in South Carolina behind current NBA players Zion Williamson and Aaron Nesmith in 2018. Burns spent his first three seasons with the Winthrop Eagles before joining the Wolfpack in 2022-23 and was named Most Outstanding Player of the South Region. The then fifth-year big man then led eleventh-seeded NC State to victory over the No. 4 seed Duke Blue Devils in the Elite Eight of the 2024 NCAA Tournament, recording 29 points, four rebounds and three assists in the 76-64 win. He went viral after the game for clowning Duke fans by telling them their season was over while gesturing a slit-throat motion. That win set up a mouth-watering Final Four clash with Zach Edey and the No.1 Purdue Boilermakers. During the first half of the game at State Farm Stadium in Arizona, Yahoo’s Krysten Peek reported that Burns was constantly ‘cracking jokes’ to Edey between plays. Viral footage showed 7ft 4in Edey cracking up at something Burns said to him and fans were loving it. Burns finished the contest with eight points and ultimately couldn’t help overcome the top seed as Purdue secured a comfortable 63-50 victory. Burns was named the MVP of the Championship Game of the ACC Men’s Basketball TournamentGetty He went undrafted in the 2024 NBA Draft and is now playing in South KoreaGetty Burns and NC State’s run was over, but he had captured the hearts and minds of many, including three-time NBA MVP Nikola Jokic. “He’s amazing… I think he’s so skilled, especially lefty…seems like teammates like to play with him. Gotta be a good guy,” Jokic said. Burns caught the eye of both fans and NFL scouts during his run at The Dance. The latter were reportedly eyeing him up as a football prospect due to his combination of size and agility. Peter Schrager of Fox Sports reported multiple NFL executives even viewed Burns as a potential NFL offensive tackle. March Madness Top Stories Ranking the greatest players in NCAA men’s March Madness history – from Michael Jordan to Magic Johnson ‘This sister is special’ – Stephen A. Smith identifies rising star who can challenge Caitlin Clark’s WNBA dominance NCAA March Madness is bigger and better than the College Football Playoff – the springtime phenomenon is bigger than ever Biggest March Madness upsets in history of NCAA Tournament – top seeds humiliated as small schools enjoy their moment In particular, Burns’ footwork, which was described as ‘A+’, had NFL scouts wondering if he’d better suited to professional football than basketball. Burns ultimately stuck with hoops, though, spending time with the Cleveland Cavaliers in the NBA Summer League last year. On September 14, 2024, Burns signed with the Goyang Sono Skygunners of the Korean Basketball League (KBL). The 24-year-old has played in 45 games with Skygunners, averaging 9.9 points with four rebounds and 2.1 assists. How to watch March Madness in the UK *If you click a link in this box we will earn affiliate revenue March Madness is one of the most exciting times of the year for basketball fans, with a total of 68 teams battling it out to become the Division 1 college champions. This year UConn have the chance to become only the second team ever to complete a March Madness three-peat, having emerged victorious for the last two years. talkSPORT will have the latest news on the tournament, but for UK basketball fans the way to watch is through Sky Sports. The broadcaster will be showing EVERY March Madness game through their Sky Sports + streaming service. Click here to sign up to a Sky Sports subscription, or read our article on the best Sky Sports deals available now.
DJ Burns was the biggest star at The Dance last year.
The 6ft 9in big man was a larger than life star for NC State in 2024, helping the Wolfpack get to the NCAA Tournament in the first place by winning the ACC tournament and being crowned MVP of the Championship Game.
Burns quickly became America’s new favourite hero, and was part of the Cinderella NC State team who punched their ticket to the Final Four for the first time since winning the 1983 national championship.
The Wolfpack’s Cinderella run through March Madness saw them win nine straight elimination games through the ACC and NCAA Tournaments.
Before that, Burns attended York Prep Academy in Rock Hill, South Carolina and was a four-star recruit and the No. 3 prospect in South Carolina behind current NBA players Zion Williamson and Aaron Nesmith in 2018.
Burns spent his first three seasons with the Winthrop Eagles before joining the Wolfpack in 2022-23 and was named Most Outstanding Player of the South Region.
The then fifth-year big man then led eleventh-seeded NC State to victory over the No. 4 seed Duke Blue Devils in the Elite Eight of the 2024 NCAA Tournament, recording 29 points, four rebounds and three assists in the 76-64 win.
He went viral after the game for clowning Duke fans by telling them their season was over while gesturing a slit-throat motion.
That win set up a mouth-watering Final Four clash with Zach Edey and the No.1 Purdue Boilermakers.
During the first half of the game at State Farm Stadium in Arizona, Yahoo’s Krysten Peek reported that Burns was constantly ‘cracking jokes’ to Edey between plays.
Viral footage showed 7ft 4in Edey cracking up at something Burns said to him and fans were loving it.
Burns finished the contest with eight points and ultimately couldn’t help overcome the top seed as Purdue secured a comfortable 63-50 victory.
Burns and NC State’s run was over, but he had captured the hearts and minds of many, including three-time NBA MVP Nikola Jokic.
“He’s amazing… I think he’s so skilled, especially lefty…seems like teammates like to play with him. Gotta be a good guy,” Jokic said.
Burns caught the eye of both fans and NFL scouts during his run at The Dance. The latter were reportedly eyeing him up as a football prospect due to his combination of size and agility.
Peter Schrager of Fox Sports reported multiple NFL executives even viewed Burns as a potential NFL offensive tackle.
March Madness Top Stories
Ranking the greatest players in NCAA men’s March Madness history – from Michael Jordan to Magic Johnson
‘This sister is special’ – Stephen A. Smith identifies rising star who can challenge Caitlin Clark’s WNBA dominance
NCAA March Madness is bigger and better than the College Football Playoff – the springtime phenomenon is bigger than ever
Biggest March Madness upsets in history of NCAA Tournament – top seeds humiliated as small schools enjoy their moment
In particular, Burns’ footwork, which was described as ‘A+’, had NFL scouts wondering if he’d better suited to professional football than basketball.
Burns ultimately stuck with hoops, though, spending time with the Cleveland Cavaliers in the NBA Summer League last year.
On September 14, 2024, Burns signed with the Goyang Sono Skygunners of the Korean Basketball League (KBL).
The 24-year-old has played in 45 games with Skygunners, averaging 9.9 points with four rebounds and 2.1 assists.
How to watch March Madness in the UK
*If you click a link in this box we will earn affiliate revenue
March Madness is one of the most exciting times of the year for basketball fans, with a total of 68 teams battling it out to become the Division 1 college champions.
This year UConn have the chance to become only the second team ever to complete a March Madness three-peat, having emerged victorious for the last two years.
talkSPORT will have the latest news on the tournament, but for UK basketball fans the way to watch is through Sky Sports. The broadcaster will be showing EVERY March Madness game through their Sky Sports + streaming service.
Click here to sign up to a Sky Sports subscription, or read our article on the best Sky Sports deals available now.
