One-time 275-pound North Carolina State center DJ Burns believes Ozempic is not the only effective way to shed pounds quickly. DJ Burns said he shed around 17 percent of his body weight naturally without the assistance of the controversial drug ahead of his NBA Draft.
The 6-foot-9 Burns played a pivotal role in leading the Wolf Pack to the Final Four, where they were ultimately defeated by Purdue and their 7-foot-4 center, Zach Edey. Since declaring for next month’s NBA Draft, DJ Burns has shed around 45 pounds in under two months through a regimen of four 5 am workouts each week.
Shams Charania revealed Burns’ significant weight loss on “Run It Back,” sharing an image of the slimmed-down player. Burns, who began his college career at Winthrop, transferred to NC State in 2022, where he quickly became one of the ACC’s standout post players, averaging 12.7 points per game over the last two seasons, according to Daily Mail.
DJ Burns has impressed NBA scouts with his scoring efficiency, making 54 percent of his 2-point field-goal attempts for the Wolfpack. Despite two strong seasons at NC State, he is not currently projected as a first-round pick, though this could change soon.
There has also been speculation about a potential move to football, with NFL scouts reportedly showing interest in the South Carolina native. However, DJ Burns dismissed the idea of a football career after the season, stating unequivocally in April that he had “zero” interest in pursuing it.
This was a slight shift from his comments earlier that week on the “Dan Patrick Show,” where he mentioned that while basketball was his top priority, he wasn’t “a closed-minded person.” Burns did acknowledge having played football in his younger years.
“Until I got my first scholarship offer (for basketball), and then I quit immediately,” Burns said.
Wolfpack coach Kevin Keatts stated that he didn’t receive any inquiries about Burns as a football player, and argued that the sport doesn’t fit Burns’ personality.
“No way he’s going to play football,’ Keatts said. ‘I mean, listen, he’s got a great touch. He’s not that bully that you guys think. You spent some time with him? He’s a Teddy bear off the court.”
