When the Brooklyn Nets drafted Egor Demin eighth total, it was instantly deemed a attain, and early impressions haven’t modified this view.
With the eighth decide within the 2025 NBA Draft, the Brooklyn Nets picked BYU level guard Egor Demin, which was a little bit of a attain. He was ranked twentieth in our full mock draft.
Nonetheless, the Nets ended up with 5 first-round choices and had been in a position to gamble with some prospects, which they did. Demin was seen as among the finest passers and true level guards within the draft, though he upset in Summer time League, posting 11.3 factors, 1.3 assists, and three turnovers per sport.
Earlier than enjoying at BYU, Demin educated with Actual Madrid and attended the Moscow Basketball Academy, so there was an expectation that he can be a bit extra polished than most first-year guards.
Whereas he was strong, he didn’t reside as much as the eighth-overall hype, leaving loads to be desired by the Nets, particularly as a facilitator.
“Demin shot the three effectively (10-of-23, 43.5 p.c), which raises his flooring, however he made just one basket contained in the arc in three video games whereas compiling a 4:9 assist-turnover ratio,” defined The Athletic’s Legislation Murray.
The largest knock was by far his lack of aggression. In three video games, he recorded solely three whole steals and took solely 4 photographs contained in the arc, making a single shot close to the basket.
As an outsized, 6-foot-8 level guard, he should have the ability to get to the rim and end via contact, though the shortage of bust, aggression, and athleticism ought to have brought about panic inside the Nets’ entrance workplace.
Whereas Demin shot very effectively from deep in Summer time League, he was not often known as a marksman in school. He was an excellent passer, and his Summer time League assist-to-turnover ratio shouldn’t be sufficient to concern the Nets, because the three-game pattern measurement was very restricted, and he performed a vastly completely different function than what he’s anticipated to have within the common season.
“He ought to be the front-runner to begin at level guard in Brooklyn, however don’t be shocked if he isn’t significantly on-ball dominant initially of the season,” Murray predicted.
Anticipate him to deliver the ball up the courtroom, possibly slash, after which kick the ball out. He is not going to be used as a scoring menace; he has already proved that he’s not on the stage he was initially anticipated to be at.
For the Nets, Demin must be a star level guard in his prime for the gamble to repay, and along with his “dominance” already being questioned, persistence shall be wanted in Brooklyn.
