Nikola Jokic shows love to DJ Burns after NC State win over Duke: 'He's so skilled'
Denver Nuggets star Nikola Jokic seems to be a big fan of N.C. State’s DJ Burns. Before Jokic spoke to reporters on Sunday night, he watched the Wolfpack beat Duke in the Elite Eight of the NCAA men’s basketball tournament. And during the press conference, Jokic, a two-time NBA MVP, showed a lot of love to Burns.
“I think he’s so skilled, especially lefty…seems like teammates like to play with him,” Jokic said. That’d be a good guy.”
Burns is a big reason why N.C. State is heading to the Final Four for the first time since 1983. In the 76-64 win against Duke, Burns scored 29 points, 21 in the second half. After the game, Burns shared his reaction to the team being two wins away from the national championship.
“I’ll say like I’ve been saying the whole tournament. When I stop having fun with basketball, I’ll stop playing. I’m very thankful to be here. Our guys behind us were ready,” Burns said.
N.C. State began its magical run after winning the ACC Tournament. After beating North Carolina in the ACC Tournnament championship game, the Wolfpack took down Texas Tech, Oakland and Marquette before defeating Duke on Sunday. Burns and N.C. State will face Purdue in the semifinals on April 6.
Nikola Jokic making a push to win another title
While Burns is looking to make more history at N.C. State. Jokic wants to run it back with the Nuggets. The team won the NBA title last year, and Jokic was named NBA Finals MVP after averging averaging 30.2 points, 14 rebounds, 7.2 assists and 1.4 blocks against the Miami Heat.
This season, the Nuggests are in good position to win another title as they are just half a game behind the Oklahoma City Thunder for the top spot in the Western Conference. In December, Jokic spoke to Michael Porter Jr. about winning and making it a lifestyle.
“The motivation actually becomes your lifestyle of being obsessed with success,” Jokic told Porter on his podcast, per Denver Sports. “I think winning is a lifestyle for us right now, I’m thinking about the team right, I think like we can win every game and I think it’s winning is kind of lifestyle and you get obsessed with winning and that lifestyle. We have fun when we’re winning and that’s my motivation, I’m obsessed with winning and that lifestyle.”
Jokic has been with the Nuggets since 2015. Along with winning an NBA title and multiple MVPs, Jokic has been named an All-Star six times and selected to the All-NBA Team five times.