In one of the more polarizing selections of the 2025 NBA Draft, the Brooklyn Nets used their first of five first-round picks on BYU's Egor Demin at No. 8.
While some pundits like the long-term upside with the Russian point guard, the Nets' drafting two more point guards the same night causes questions to arise about Demin's development in Brooklyn.
How will Demin mesh with the crowded point guard room in Kings County? Will he be able to contribute in year one?
Demin's draft profile
Measured at 6-foot-8 and 1/4 inches at the NBA Draft Combine, Demin is the tallest point guard ever to participate in the combine. His height and lengthy 6-foot-10 wingspan were intriguing for NBA front offices, and is reminiscent of hall of fame point guard Magic Johnson with their similar sizes.
That size at the point guard position is truly unique, and is very enticing in a league that values length more and more every season.
His biggest strength is passing, and as you probably heard a dozen times during ESPN's broadcast of the draft on Wednesday, he is the best passer in the draft, and it's not close. Demin broke Danny Ainge's BYU freshman record for most assists in a single season, averaging 5.5 a game in 2024-25.
Egor Demin is a 6’9 PG with incredible passing vision and some slept on versatility. With the right cast around him he could very well be a matchup nightmare for years to come. Just needs that consistent jumper pic.twitter.com/hXPO3gMdKl
— Evan (@Evtowns) April 25, 2025
Shooting continues to be a big concern for Demin. His mechanics look good, but his shots just don't fall. He averaged less than 10 points per game in Big 12 play, and only shot 22.6% from deep. Not shooting stats that you want from your floor general.
Demin is a project. By no means is he a win-now pick. He is a raw prospect that needs a lot of polishing with his shot creation, shooting, handling, and physicality.
But the long term idea of a 6-8 (barefoot) point guard who can realistically run an NBA offense was one that every NBA team was interested in, and ultimately, what the Brooklyn Nets chose.
Demin's rookie year outlook in Brooklyn
The Nets were one of the most intriguing teams going into the draft. With five first-round draft picks, they had the chance to make some big time trades to move up, move back ,or acquire more capital for next year's draft.
But at the end of the first round on Wednesday, the Nets walked away with all five of their selections, three of them being the same position.
| Brooklyn Nets first-round draft picks | |||
| No. 8 | Egor Demin | PG | BYU |
| No. 19 | Nolan Traore | PG | France |
| No. 22 | Drake Powell | G/F | UNC |
| No. 26 | Ben Saraf | PG | Israel |
| No. 27 | Danny Wolf | F/C | Michigan |
Nolan Traore was projected to be a borderline top-five pick this time last year, but fell after a rough season playing for Saint-Quentin in France. Getting him at 19 is decent value if you buy into the preseason hype.
Ben Saraf is an Israeli point guard who, like Demin, shows exceptional passing skills. He put up an impressive 12 ppg and 4 apg in the German Bundesliga last season.
The Summer League will give Nets fans a chance to see which rookie point guard will stand out amongst the pack. Their first game is July 10.
Brooklyn already has its set starting backcourt with veteran D'Angelo Russell starting at point guard, and high volume scorer Cam Thomas as his counterpart.
| PPG | FG% | 3PT% | RPG | APG | |
| D'Angelo Russell | 12.6 | 39.0% | 31.4% | 2.8 | 5.1 |
| Cam Thomas | 24.0 | 43.8% | 34.9% | 3.3 | 3.8 |
Neither Russell or Thomas are elite 3-point shooters, but then again, neither is Demin.
Demin has the upper hand on Thomas when it comes to size and passing ability, but Thomas is leagues above Demin scoring-wise — albeit even if Thomas has a very high and inefficient usage rate.
Demin has a realistic shot at getting valuable minutes off the bench in Brooklyn, but he needs to be a level above his rookie counterparts. It's a crowded room and every little advantage counts.
If he can improve his shooting to the point where defenses have to respect his shot — not fear, just respect — then that is his key to cracking the main rotation on this Nets team, and maybe even start in the future.