Egor Dëmin Is Quietly Making NBA Rookie History-One Three-Pointer at a Time
Egor Dëmin may not be the loudest name in this year’s rookie class, but the Brooklyn Nets guard is letting his game do the talking-and it’s speaking volumes from beyond the arc.
Through 40 games, Dëmin has emerged as one of the league’s most reliable long-range threats. He’s knocking down 39.7% of his three-point attempts, a mark that not only puts him among the NBA’s top 50 in makes per game (2.5), but also places him on the doorstep of a rookie record.
Dëmin has hit at least one three-pointer in 33 straight games, tying Rudy Fernandez and Landry Shamet for the longest such streak by a rookie in NBA history. If he connects on one more in Thursday’s matchup against the Denver Nuggets, the record will be all his.
This isn’t just a hot streak-it’s sustained, high-level shooting that’s rewriting expectations for a player who, not long ago, wasn’t known for his perimeter game.
Back in college at BYU, Dëmin showed flashes of shooting potential, starting his season by hitting 13 of his first 23 from deep. But the consistency wasn’t there.
He cooled off dramatically, making just five of his next 43 attempts and finishing the year at 27.3% from distance. That version of Dëmin feels like a distant memory now.
“Obviously coming from the last season with 25 percent from the 3 in college to whatever I have right now (has me) feeling very, very confident in that aspect of the game,” Dëmin said recently. “That makes me happy.”
It should. His transformation into a dependable shooter has been nothing short of remarkable, and January has been his best month yet.
In 12 games, he’s hit multiple threes in 11 of them, including three games with five makes. He’s shooting a blistering 46.8% from deep this month-numbers that would make even seasoned sharpshooters take notice.
And the milestones keep stacking up. With 98 made threes through his first 40 NBA games, Dëmin now ranks second all-time in that category for a rookie, trailing only Charlotte’s Kon Knueppel. That’s elite company, and it speaks to how quickly Dëmin has adapted to the NBA’s pace and spacing.
But it’s not just the shooting that’s turning heads. Dëmin is averaging 10.4 points, 3.0 rebounds, and 3.4 assists per game-solid all-around numbers for a rookie still finding his rhythm in a rebuilding Nets system. His feel for the game, combined with his length and versatility, gives Brooklyn a unique backcourt piece to build around.
It hasn’t gone unnoticed. Earlier this week, Dëmin was selected to participate in the NBA Rising Stars event during All-Star Weekend, becoming the first former BYU player to appear in the festivities since Shawn Bradley suited up for the Rookie Challenge back in 1994.
This is more than just a feel-good story. It’s a blueprint for development. Dëmin’s growth from a hesitant college shooter to a confident NBA sniper shows what can happen when talent meets work ethic-and when a player is put in the right situation to thrive.
For the Nets, who are in the midst of a rebuild, Dëmin’s emergence is a bright spot. He’s not just filling minutes-he’s making history, one three-pointer at a time.
Next up: a chance to own the rookie record outright in Denver. After that, a return to Salt Lake City to face the Jazz on Friday night. Given how Dëmin’s been shooting, don’t be surprised if he adds a few more milestones to his growing list before the week is over.