Summary
Egor Demin is the Brooklyn Nets' franchise bet — a 6'8" Russian point guard selected 8th overall in the 2025 NBA Draft. At 20 years old, he has the rarest combination in basketball: elite size at the point guard position with genuine playmaking ability and a reliable three-point shot. His rookie season showed flashes of All-Star potential (10.3 PPG, 3.3 APG on 38.5% from three) before plantar fasciitis ended his year in March. He's the centerpiece of the rebuild.
Key Insights
- Drafted 8th overall in 2025 by the Nets — the highest pick from the rebuild's tank year
- 6'8" point guard — Luka Doncic-adjacent physical profile, can see over defenses
- Developed at Real Madrid's academy before playing one year at BYU
- Set Nets franchise record for three-pointers by a rookie (7-for-14 in a single game)
- Established NBA rookie record for consecutive games with a made three (34 games)
- Season ended March 9 due to plantar fasciitis — durability is the first concern
- 52 games played (45 starts), 25.2 MPG — got significant runway as a rookie
Details
Playing Style
Demin is a pass-first point guard with size. At 6'8", he can post up smaller guards, see over the defense to find cutters, and shoot over contested closeouts. His 38.5% three-point shooting on decent volume makes him a legitimate floor spacer at the point. His 83.1% free throw shooting suggests the shot is real.
The Real Madrid academy gave him European fundamentals — court awareness, off-ball movement, pick-and-roll IQ. The BYU year (10.6 PPG, 5.5 APG) showed he could translate those skills against American competition.
Rookie Stats
| Stat | Value |
|---|---|
| Games | 52 (45 starts) |
| PPG | 10.3 |
| RPG | 3.2 |
| APG | 3.3 |
| FG% | 39.9% |
| 3PT% | 38.5% |
| FT% | 83.1% |
Rookie Highlights
- Dec 29 vs Golden State: Shot 7-for-14 from three — broke the Nets franchise record for three-pointers by a rookie in a single game
- Jan 30 vs Utah Jazz: 25 points, 10 rebounds, 5 threes in a 106-99 win. Made it 34 consecutive games with a made three-pointer — an NBA rookie record
- 45 starts in 52 games — trusted as the starting point guard from nearly day one
The Injury
Plantar fasciitis shut Demin down on March 9, 2026 after 52 games. It's not a catastrophic injury, but it's a chronic one — it can linger and affect explosiveness. The Nets will need to manage his workload carefully in Year 2. He missed the final 30 games of the season.
Franchise Player Projection
The Nets didn't get Cooper Flagg (#1 to Dallas), but Demin has a legitimate path to becoming a franchise cornerstone. His size + shooting + playmaking combination is the archetype of modern NBA success (Luka, Shai, Jalen Brunson with more size). If the shot stays consistent and he adds muscle, he projects as an All-Star caliber player.
Related
Open Questions
- How does the plantar fasciitis affect his Year 2 development?
- Can he become a 20+ PPG scorer, or is he more of a 15-and-8 facilitator?
- How does he fit long-term with Nolan Traore — two point guards in the same backcourt?