GREENSBORO, N.C. (WJZY) — Beloved former N.C. State big man DJ Burns is coming back to the North Carolina hardwood.
Burns was acquired by the Greensboro Swarm, the Charlotte Hornets’ G League affiliate, the team announced Saturday. The 6-foot-9 Rock Hill, South Carolina, native joins the Swarm after being added from the G League undrafted player pool.
Burns, 25, most recently played for the Goyang Sono Skygunners of the Korean Basketball League. In 54 games, he averaged 9.3 points, 3.6 rebounds and 2.1 assists in 18.7 minutes per game. He went undrafted in the 2024 NBA Draft and played in four games for the Cleveland Cavaliers during the 2024 NBA2K Summer League, averaging 5.8 points, 2.2 rebounds and 1.0 assists in 11.9 minutes.
Burns was instrumental in N.C. State’s surprise run to the 2024 ACC championship and Final Four, earning South Region Most Outstanding Player honors. That season, he averaged 12.9 points, 4.0 rebounds, and 2.9 assists in 24.9 minutes per game, captured ACC Tournament MVP and posted a 29-point performance in the Elite Eight against Duke.
He joins the Swarm ahead of its season opener on Nov. 7 against the Maine Celtics.
Before his two years in Raleigh, Burns also had stops at the University of Tennessee and Winthrop University.