Beloved NC State basketball player DJ Burns signs pro contract. When, where he’s playing

N.C. State forward and NCAA Tournament favorite DJ Burns has signed a professional contract with the Sono Skygunners of the Korean Basketball League.

Burns will play at center for the Skygunners in Goyang, South Korea, the club announced this weekend.

“I’m a fun loving guy who came here to work hard and build a great opportunity,” Burns said in an introductory video.

The Rock Hill, South Carolina, native said being a member of the team “feels amazing,” and told fans to be ready.

“I came here to try my best to affect winning, so let’s get to it,” Burns said.

His addition was met with excitement from fans on social media, several commenting on his positive personality and his agility.

Meanwhile, N.C. State fans have taken to the internet in hopes of finding ways to watch the games and buy merchandise.

The Skygunners begin their season on Oct. 20 and seek a KBL Championship, which they have not won since the 2015-16 season. The team has not won the regular season since the 2002-03 season, but finished second in 2016-17.

Games are available on the KBL App or SPOTV NOW.

Burns helped lead the Wolfpack to an ACC Championship and Final Four run last season. He recorded 12.9 points in 2023-24, including a career-high 529 points for the season, and 4.0 rebounds per game. He scored in double digits 31 times and contributed two double-doubles.

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“I don’t know how you defend DJ Burns. He’s just so gifted. It’s a dilemma every time down the floor,” North Carolina head coach Hubert Davis said in January. “Do you guard him one on one? Or, do you double team? He’s such a gifted passer. And so you try to mix things up, not give him a steady diet so he knows that he’s going to pass out of the double team or he knows that nobody is coming.”

The Cleveland Cavaliers signed Burns to a Summer League contract after he went undrafted. In his Summer League finale, Burns finished with eight points on 3 of 6 shooting, two rebounds, one assist and one block in 12 minutes off the bench.

Teammates DJ Horne and Mohammed Diarra also signed overseas contracts this summer. Horne earned a spot with MLP Academics Heidelberg in Germany, while Diarra signed with CSP Limoges in his home country of France.

Previous teammates Jarkel Joiner and Terquavion Smith are also playing professionally. Smith signed a contract with the Philadelphia 76ers last season and currently plays for the Jiangsu Dragons in China. Joiner is a member of the College Park Skyhawks in the NBA G-League.