Bleacher Report’s latest age-by-age NBA rankings gave the Nets a little bit of everything: a glimpse at the future with Egor Dëmin and a reminder of the present with Michael Porter Jr.
In the outlet’s list of the best player at every age from 19 through 41, Brooklyn landed two names among the contenders. Dëmin was in the mix for the league’s top 20-year-old, while Porter was included among the candidates for best 28-year-old.
Dëmin didn’t take the crown at 20 - that went to San Antonio Spurs guard Dylan Harper - but his presence on the list still stands out. The Nets rookie was grouped with Harper and Bulls rookie forward Caleb Wilson as one of the players drawing attention at that age.
Brooklyn used the No. 8 pick in the 2025 NBA Draft on Dëmin, and he gave the team plenty to like in his first season. He averaged 10.3 points and 3.3 assists per game, offering an early look at why he was viewed as a lottery talent in the first place.
He kept building momentum over the offseason, too. Dëmin was one of Brooklyn’s better performers in Summer League and finished with a spot on the 2026 NBA All-Summer League Second Team.
That kind of recognition doesn’t mean he’s finished developing - far from it. But it does underline how much upside Brooklyn is working with as he heads into Year 2 at just 20 years old.
Porter’s place on the list tells a different story.
At 28, he was one of the contenders for the top spot at his age, though Oklahoma City Thunder star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander earned that honor. Jayson Tatum and Austin Reaves were also mentioned alongside Porter.
Brooklyn brought Porter in last offseason in a significant move, adding a proven scorer and shooter to the roster. The former Denver Nugget has long been known as one of the league’s most dangerous perimeter threats, and his 6-foot-10 frame gives the Nets another way to create offensive mismatches.
Even without landing the No. 1 spot, being listed with names like Tatum and Reaves says plenty about where Porter stands.
For the Nets, the pairing is what makes the recognition interesting. Dëmin is the kind of young piece who could become a major part of the franchise’s future, while Porter is expected to help right away with his experience and production.
They’re at opposite ends of the timeline. Dëmin is just getting started in his second NBA season and still has plenty to absorb at the pro level. Porter has already been a key piece on a championship team and now enters his prime with Brooklyn.
Neither one was ultimately chosen as the best at his age, but having both players show up on the list is still a strong reflection of where the Nets stand. Dëmin will try to take another step forward, and Porter will look to prove he’s still one of the league’s more impactful players in his late 20s.
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