North Carolina State Wolfpack forward DJ Burns Jr. Grace Hollars/IndyStar / USA TODAY NETWORK

Report: March Madness star has lost a stunning amount of weight ahead of NBA Draft

By Victor Barbosa | Last updated 5/22/24

NBA insider Shams Charania of The Athletic reported during Wednesday's episode of FanDuel TV's "Run It Back" that former North Carolina State star DJ Burns Jr. has lost a stunning amount of weight since his team's spring run to the Final Four.

"DJ Burns told me he has lost 45 pounds in the last six and a half weeks...He told me no Ozempic, he said he's been doing workouts 4 days a week, at 5am."@ShamsCharania on draft project DJ Burns. pic.twitter.com/NPOc9Bxuh8
— Run It Back (@RunItBackFDTV) May 22, 2024

"There was a big deal made about his size, his frame, his weight. He was listed at 275 pounds when he finished the season in college," Charania said. "I saw him at the pro day yesterday. He looked totally different."

The 6-foot-9 lefty was one of the faces of the 2024 men's NCAA Tournament, leading the 11th-seeded Wolfpack on a shocking run to the national semifinals, where they lost to No. 1 Purdue.

Burns Jr. was named the 2023-24 ACC Tournament MVP and made an All-Region team during March Madness.

The big man scored in double figures in three of NC State's five NCAA Tournament contests, including a season-high 29 points during the team's Elite Eight upset of No. 4 seed Duke. Burns Jr.'s output against the Blue Devils was just two points shy of his career high 31, which he recorded in January 2023 against Wake Forest.

ESPN's most recent 2024 mock draft has Burns Jr. going undrafted.

The 2024 NBA Draft is on June 26 and June 27.

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