NC State Basketball in NBA: DJ Burns Makes Case for More Minutes

The NC State basketball miracle worker is excelling on both ends of the floor in NBA Summer League action.

In hopes of turning his NBA 2K25 Summer League stint with the Cleveland Cavaliers into a two-way contract or better for the upcoming season, first-year pro and legendary NC State basketball forward DJ Burns is putting on a show in Las Vegas.

Burns started strong in Cleveland’s opener, a 106-79 loss to the Magic on Friday. Coming off the bench, he made an immediate impact with two quick scores in his first three minutes on the floor. Although he went scoreless in his nine minutes during the second half, his initial performance showcased his scoring prowess in the paint.

The 23-year-old ACC Tournament MVP from Rock Hill, S.C., went undrafted in June despite his stellar performances in March, which helped NC State basketball reach its first Final Four in 41 years. Burns followed up his encouraging debut with a highly productive outing on Sunday.

In just 15 minutes of playing time during a 112-81 win over the Milwaukee Bucks, the 6-foot-9, 275-pound Burns recorded seven points, five rebounds, two assists, two steals, and one block while serving as the team’s backup power forward. He shot 3-for-5 from the field and 1-for-2 from the free-throw line.

DJ Burns and the Cavaliers (1-1) will next face the Golden State Warriors (2-0) at 10 p.m. ET Wednesday on NBA TV.

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