Nikola Jokić commends DJ Burns Jr., the March Madness hero who is leading an unexpected Final Four run.

But Burns isn’t only winning accolades on the court; his graceful footwork, strong drives to the hoop, and overall confidence have made him an internet celebrity.

He was spotted interacting with Duke supporters, dancing in the middle of the court during pivotal moments in games, and generally projecting dominance when holding the basketball.

Overall, Burns appears to be enjoying his moment in the limelight and is being known as one of the greatest players the game has ever seen.

All-around ability
Burns, a native of Rock Hill, South Carolina, has always been a basketball player.

After accumulating more than 1,000 points and 1,000 rebounds at York Preparatory Academy, Burns was rated as the fifth-best prospect in South Carolina for the class of 2018 by 247Sports.com, a website that rates high school players vying for college spots.

Burns wasn’t just deft in the way he handled a basketball. He also learned to play multiple instruments as a youth – including the standup bass, tuba, piano and saxophone. His mom, Takela, says his musical proclivities help his basketball style, telling CNN affiliate WRAL earlier this week: “He plays to a beat.”

His mom was a school administrator while his dad, Dwight Sr., is a probation and parole agent for York County, helping recently released inmates try to rebuild their lives on the outside.

The NC State star grew up around people from different backgrounds, with his grandmother running a foster home and his parents taking in other children from unstable homes.

“It’s a part of how I grew up,” Burns’ mom, Takela, told the Rock Hill Herald in 2016, “and I wanted to make sure the kids had something else besides sports to kind of make sure they keep their time spent diversely.

“Our household serves,” Takela added.

Although Burns has received negative comments about his size, his mom says it “fuels him when people are ugly” towards him.

He committed to the University of Tennessee after high school, but after not playing a game during his redshirt first season, transferred to Winthrop University in his hometown.

There, Burns honed his basketball game over three seasons in South Carolina and was named Big South Conference Player of the Year in his junior season by setting career highs in points per game, rebounds and field goal percentage.

He reached 1,000 career points in just his third season with the team, becoming the fifth player in program history to do so before their senior season.

Burns transferred to NC State ahead of the 2022/23 season, quickly becoming a vital member of the team’s rotation in his debut season.

But it was in the Wolfpack’s 2024 March Madness tournament where Burns has blossomed into a star.

Magical run

NC State came into March Madness as the 11th seed and wasn’t predicted for anything remarkable.

But, with Burns at center and the team’s underdog mentality, they have shocked the college basketball scene.

The Wolfpack first beat No. 6 Texas Tech, 80-67, with Burns scoring 16 points in 16 minutes, before overcoming first-round national darling No. 14 Oakland, 79-73. Burns racked up 24 points in 42 minutes in a dominant performance in the win over Oakland.

A further shock 67-58 victory over No. 2 Marquette followed in the Sweet 16 before Sunday’s incredible win over No. 4 Duke – one of college basketball’s historic powerhouses – led by Burns’ season-high 29 points, thanks to his sheer power and fleet-footedness.

Although Burns’ skills on the court had already caught the eye in previous rounds, it was in the win over Duke in which the nation saw his carefree, joyous personality.