NC State's DJ Burns Jr. has become a fan favorite over the last couple of weeks.
The 6-9, 275-pound senior captured the hearts of college basketball fans everywhere while leading the Wolfpack on a run past Duke and North Carolina to take home the ACC Tournament championship. He was named ACC Tournament MVP 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 any NBA Draft attention as the Wolfpack march into the Sweet 16? The Sporting News takes a closer look below.
MORE: Get to know NC State's DJ Burns Jr.
DJ Burns Jr. stats
| Stat | Average |
| Points | 12.8 |
| Rebounds | 4.1 |
| Assists | 2.7 |
| Blocks | 0.6 |
| Steals | 0.5 |
| Field goal % | 52.7 |
| Free throw % | 67.7 |
DJ Burns Jr. strengths
Burns' biggest strength is, of course, his size. Listed at 6-9, 275 lbs., he is a walking mismatch at the college level.
But Burns isn't just a bulldozer who backs his opponent through the stanchion for easy layups. The senior forward is deceptively quick and light-footed. He's extremely coordinated with great hands and a soft touch around the rim.
He's a tactician in the post, banging bodies and lulling his defender until he can get to 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😤
— B/R Hoops (@brhoops) March 22, 2024
◾️ 16 PTS
◾️ 7-11 FG pic.twitter.com/jTcL80DQHp
Burns is not a black hole on the block, either. If he can't get to his spot, he'll kick it back out, use his size to get better position and make himself available for another entry pass. He has solid court vision and can make plays for his teammates when he's doubled.
MORE: Ranking best NBA comparisons for DJ Burns Jr.
DJ Burns Jr. weaknesses
Burns is a talented offensive weapon but he is a non-shooter outside of the paint. Also, for as powerful and graceful as he is on the offensive end, the same does not apply to 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. Even though he has good footwork on offense, he lacks the lateral mobility to defend in space.
Without quick hands to come up with blocks or steals, Burns is an overall minus defensively. And assignments won't get any easier against much quicker NBA athletes.
MORE: Why Zach Edey is now viewed as a potential first-round pick
DJ Burns Jr. NBA Mock Draft projection
Mock Draft projection: Undrafted free agent
Even with the breakout performance that Burns has put together between the ACC and NCAA Tournaments, it is hard to believe he'll be drafted, even as a second-rounder.
For comparison, Kenneth Lofton Jr. had a similar build coming out of Louisiana Tech, and he had more all-around skill and did not get drafted in 2022.
Players who show out on the March Madness stage do have a rich history of getting a chance to prove themselves in NBA Summer League. Look for Burns to get scooped up as an undrafted free agent and suit up for some team in Las Vegas come July.
MORE: 2024 NBA Mock Draft: Predicting where March Madness stars will go
DJ Burns Jr. NBA player comparison
Plays like: Zach Randolph
Ever since Charles Barkley made the comparison between the two big lefties, it's hard to unsee it.
Burns and Randolph are similar in size — Burns is listed at 6-9, 275 lbs. while Randolph was 6-9, 250 lbs. — and have the same soft touch and smooth footwork.
This isn't to say Burns will be Randolph in the NBA, though. Randolph was a two-time All-Star who averaged 16.6 points and 9.1 rebounds for his career and had five seasons where he averaged a 20-point double-double. He also played a remarkable 17 seasons in the league.
It's more of a stature and play style comparison than a projection of who Burns could become.
