Concerns About Shooting Accuracy
Concerns regarding Egor Demin‘s shooting accuracy leading up to the 2025 NBA Draft were not unfounded. During his solitary college basketball season at Brigham Young University (BYU), Demin managed to hit only 27.3% of his three-point attempts, which raised red flags for scouts contemplating his potential in the professional league. Nevertheless, the Brooklyn Nets recognized the inherent talent in the young player and selected him as the 8th overall pick in June.
Preseason Debut Performance
In a promising showcase of his skills during his preseason debut against the Toronto Raptors on Friday night, the 19-year-old made a commendable impact after sitting out the first three preseason games due to a plantar fascia injury. He came off the bench and tallied 14 points, alongside five rebounds and one assist, in just 19 minutes of play.
His performance did not go unnoticed by teammates, with Michael Porter Jr. (who scored 34 points) and Cam Thomas (who added seven points) echoing sentiments of admiration and hope regarding Demin’s potential impact on the team.
“Oh, yeah, he’s solid. He’s going to be really good,”
Porter Jr. expressed to the New York Post. He highlighted Demin’s size and skill set, emphasizing how his ability to read the game and make the right plays could transcend to success at the NBA level.
Shooting Stats and Coach’s Feedback
Demin’s shooting stats from this debut included a successful 3-of-5 from the field, with two of those being three-pointers, and 6-of-7 from the free-throw line, predominantly scoring 11 points during the first half. In addition to his scoring, he recorded one block and a couple of turnovers during the Nets’ 119-114 defeat.
“He was great. He was great. Obviously, it’s preseason, but he was good for his first game,”
Thomas noted, hinting at anticipation for his next game in Charlotte.
Despite still recuperating from his foot injury—having only recently started participating in five-on-five practices while in China—head coach Jordi Fernandez expressed satisfaction with Demin’s performance.
“He was excellent. There’s going to be things he’s going to keep working on,”
Fernandez said.
“But I’m very happy with his presence, how composed he was, how he talked to his teammates, all those things. He shot the ball every time he was open or halfway open, got to the free-throw line and rebounded. It was good.”
Reflections on the NBA Experience
Reflecting on his initial experience in the NBA, Demin acknowledged the challenge posed by the Raptors’ physicality and length.
“Yeah, I’ve been told a lot about the Raptors as one of the most physical teams, how pesky they can be throughout the game,”
he admitted.
“I was super aware of what to expect… But also, I couldn’t fully understand what to expect in my first game. I’m just thrilled that we had this experience; it’s a huge lesson for all of us and I can’t wait for the start of the season.”
