Egor Demin Responds to Benchings with Breakout Performance in Nets Blowout Win
After a tough outing and some pointed words from head coach Jordi Fernandez, Egor Demin didn’t sulk - he responded. And on Sunday, the 19-year-old rookie delivered the kind of bounce-back performance that turns heads and earns respect across the league.
In the Brooklyn Nets’ 127-82 demolition of the Milwaukee Bucks - a win that tied the largest margin of victory in franchise history - Demin led the way with a season-best showing. The young point guard dropped 17 points on an efficient 6-of-8 from the field, adding three rebounds, three assists, two steals, and a block in a game that felt like a statement from both the player and the team.
“Very, very proud of [Egor],” said assistant coach Steve Hetzel, who stepped in for Fernandez as he dealt with illness. “Jordi challenged Egor, he challenged Drake [Powell], and they both responded beautifully, with an edge.
It’s another step in their progression. They took a big step in having a bad game and then responding.
And that’s what the NBA’s all about.”
That edge Hetzel mentioned? It didn’t come out of nowhere.
Just two days earlier, Demin had one of his roughest nights as a pro in a loss to the Dallas Mavericks. He played just 18 minutes - only two of them in the fourth quarter - and finished with three points on 1-of-7 shooting, one assist, and two turnovers.
Nets rookie Egor Dëmin 17 PTS (6-8 FG, 2-4 3P, 91% TS), 3 AST, 3 REB, 2 STL, 1 BLK, +20 (+/-) vs. Bucks https://t.co/4auObUJCJm pic.twitter.com/cjrgqjfqxS
— Role Player Performances (@BenchHighlights) December 15, 2025
Fernandez benched him down the stretch, sending a clear message.
Gary Trent Jr. claps in Egor Demin's face and talks some trash after stripping him and scoring.
— Erik Slater (@erikslater_) December 15, 2025
Demin comes down on the other end, drains a stepback three, and barks back at GTJ across the court. Nice to see some fire from the rookie. pic.twitter.com/JDo1XV2HoW
Powell, another rookie, also struggled in that game, logging less than three minutes after some early mistakes. But on Sunday, both responded. Powell added 13 points, four boards, and three assists on 4-of-7 shooting - another encouraging sign for a Nets team leaning heavily on youth and development.
Demin, for his part, is embracing the learning curve. “Obviously, I want to do better in every game,” he said.
“But sometimes there are days like that, and I’ve just got to really watch film, understand what I did wrong and what I could do better. Talk to the coaches and players, and learn from it.”
That mindset - short memory, long view - is essential in a league where the games come fast and the spotlight never dims. For Demin, who’s used to winning and dominating from his days in Russia and with Real Madrid, learning how to deal with failure is part of the transition.
“I didn’t have [many] lost games in my life, honestly,” he admitted. “Coming from Moscow to Spain, there were a couple of big ones, but in general, I’ve always been on a really winning team. It’s always hurt when we lost.”
In Spain, Demin says he lost maybe three games in three years. That’s a far cry from the grind of the NBA, where even the best teams drop 20-plus games a season. He started learning how to move on from bad outings during his time in college, where BYU head coach Kevin Young - with NBA experience himself - helped instill the “next game” mentality.
“You can’t really just stay with whatever happened yesterday,” Demin said.
That growth is starting to show. After a slow start to his rookie campaign, Demin has found his footing as Brooklyn’s starting point guard. Over his last 16 starts, he’s averaging 10.0 points, 3.3 rebounds, 4.0 assists, and just 1.8 turnovers per game, while shooting .401 from the field, .364 from deep, and an elite .923 from the free-throw line.
That kind of production - especially the efficiency from beyond the arc and the stripe - is rare for a rookie, particularly one adjusting to the speed and physicality of the NBA. In fact, Demin and Kon Kneuppel are the only first-year players currently averaging at least 10 points and four assists while shooting over 35 percent from three over that span.
It’s not just about the numbers, though. It’s about the growth, the poise, and the ability to take a tough night, internalize the lessons, and come back stronger. That’s what separates long-term contributors from short-term flashes.
On Sunday, Egor Demin didn’t just bounce back - he showed why the Nets are betting on his upside. And if this is what growth looks like in December, Brooklyn has every reason to be excited about what’s coming next.