Brooklyn Nets rookie Egor Demin made his biggest first-year statement from deep.
Selected with the No. 8 overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, Demin arrived in Brooklyn with the reputation of being a sharp passer who could spot openings other players simply don’t see, thanks in part to his size. But what really stood out in his rookie season was the way his three-point shot came along. Not just serviceable, either - it became one of the more impressive parts of his game.
Demin, 20, put up 10.3 points, 3.2 rebounds and 3.3 assists per game last season while shooting 39.9% from the field and 38.5% from three. He appeared in 52 games before his season ended in March because of increased plantar fasciitis in his left foot, but for more than half the year, he had his long-range touch on full display.
Among the 66 players who took at least 6.0 three-pointers per game last season, Demin finished 27th in three-point percentage. That put him in the same neighborhood as names like Los Angeles Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard and New York Knicks OG Anunoby.
That kind of rookie production is why plenty of Nets fans were already looking ahead to what Demin might do next, especially with Brooklyn expected to push for more wins.
This offseason brought a mixed showing in the California Classic and Las Vegas Summer League. Demin didn’t shoot the three particularly well there, though he did show he could still get to the rim.
The next step is obvious: put the whole package together at once and become an even more complete weapon for Brooklyn. For now, though, his first NBA season offered plenty of proof that the jumper is real.
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