Nets' Egor Demin did what was asked during Las Vegas Summer League
"Yeah, his role here (Summer League) was WAY different than what we're going to ask him to do in the regular season," a Nets coach said of Demin's role in the summer league, according to Spotrac's Keith Smith. Demin, who came into the Draft as the best passer in the class, did not spend nearly as much time with the ball in his hands as he did during his one season at BYU, but that was by design.
"But that's what this is for, right? We tasked him to shoot it from deep and to shoot it a lot. He did exactly as he was asked," the Nets coach continued. "We know about the playmaking. This was a chance to see if he could get his shot off against NBA-level defenders. He did and those shots went in a lot too. We couldn't be happier with his work here (Summer League).
Demin, 19, finished the 2024-25 college basketball season with a 24.9% usage rate as he was clearly the point guard for the Cougars and was making all of the decisions for the team. After playing three games for the Nets in the summer league, Demin finished with a 19.4% usage rate as he had to share the ball-handling responsibilities with players like fellow rookies Nolan Traore and Ben Saraf, among others.
As the Nets coach alluded to, Demin played more of an off-ball role than he has at any point over the past few seasons and the results were encouraging for what his future could be in the NBA. Demin not only shot 43.5% from three-point land, but he shot that well 7.7 three-point attempts per game, showing that the concern over his jumpshot may have been a bit overblown based on the early results.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Nikola Vucevic Report Surfaces Amidst Luka Doncic Lakers Contract News
Nikola Vucevic Report Surfaces Amidst Luka Doncic Lakers Contract News originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The Los Angeles Lakers continued their busy offseason this week. After acquiring Luka Doncic in one of the more shocking trades in NBA history back in February, the Lakers inked Doncic to a three-year, $165 million contract extension on Saturday. Earlier this summer, Lakers superstar, LeBron James, picked up his player option for the 2025-26 NBA season ($52.6 million). And most recently, the Lakers signed center, Deandre Ayton and guard, Marcus Smart in free agency. And while the Lakers roster appears to be complete ahead of the upcoming season, reports continue to surface on how the team is still looking to improve. The latest report surfaced surrounding the news of Doncic signing his contract extension. As per Anthony F. Irwin, Senior Lakers Insider for ClutchPoints, the Lakers will continue to monitor Nikola Vucevic's situation in Chicago. With the James, Lakers' window slowly closing, as the living legend enters the last year of his contract, the organization appears to be in win-now mode. As per FanDuel Sportsbook, the Lakers currently stand as the seventh favorite to win the NBA Finals (plus-1700). Vucevic, 34, has spent 14 years in the NBA between the Philadelphia 76ers, Orlando Magic, and Chicago Bulls. He has been a consistent source of points and rebounds for the majority of his career, averaging a double-double (17.2 points and 10.5 rebounds per game). He is currently entering the final year of his current contract and is set to earn $21.4 million this season before becoming an unrestricted free agent. Reports are that Vucevic could be a potential buyout candidate for the Bulls, and that's the reason the Lakers are closely monitoring the situation. This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Aug 2, 2025, where it first appeared.
USA Today
an hour ago
- USA Today
3 Things to Know About the Buccaneers vs. Titans Preseason Opener
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers open their 2025 preseason at home against the Tennessee Titans on Saturday, August 9, kicking off three dress rehearsals before week 1. While preseason football doesn't count in the standings, it still holds real meaning for players, coaches, and fans watching roster battles unfold. Here are three things to know heading into the Bucs' first tune-up of the year. The Titans are a familiar preseason opponent, and the Bucs keep their AFC-only streak alive Tampa Bay has faced the Titans multiple times in recent preseason history, including joint practices in past years. In fact, the Bucs hold a 7–5 edge in their all-time preseason series against Tennessee, which dates back to the Titans' days as the Houston Oilers. This game also marks the fifth consecutive year that the Buccaneers will face only AFC opponents in the preseason, continuing a clear scheduling trend under head coach Todd Bowles and GM Jason Licht. While preseason results are often overlooked, the familiarity with Tennessee and the AFC-only schedule helps maintain consistency in how the Bucs approach early-season evaluations. Joint practices offer a preview of top rookies and camp battles Ahead of the game, the Buccaneers and Titans will hold joint practices in Tampa, giving coaches a chance to evaluate players in live, competitive settings before the lights come on Friday night. One of the most intriguing players to watch is Titans rookie quarterback Cam Ward, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. Ward is expected to play at least a few series during the preseason opener, and the Bucs' defense will give him one of his first NFL-level tests. On Tampa Bay's side, fans will get their first extended looks at rookies like wide receivers Emeka Egbuka and Tez Johnson and rookie corners Benjamin Morrison and Jacob Parrish, all of whom have impressed early in camp. Joint practices will be especially valuable for fringe players and draft picks looking to secure second-team reps or special teams roles before the final roster cutdowns. Depth evaluation will be the focus, not the final score As with most preseason games, don't expect the stars to play much, if at all. Veterans like Lavonte David, Mike Evans, and Baker Mayfield may dress but are unlikely to see extended action. The real value in Friday night's game lies in the depth evaluation. Players like Logan Hall, Trey Palmer, and newly signed linebacker Anthony Walker Jr. (if healthy) are expected to play meaningful snaps as they fight for key backup roles. The Bucs' coaching staff will use this game to assess not just individual talent, but how well younger players execute under live-game pressure. For the Titans, this game also offers a test for their revamped offensive line and young secondary. Both teams are in talent-evaluation mode, making this more of a strategic and developmental night than a competitive showdown.
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Insider Sparks Austin Reaves Trade Speculation Amid Lakers Offseason Moves
Insider Sparks Austin Reaves Trade Speculation Amid Lakers Offseason Moves originally appeared on Fadeaway World. The Los Angeles Lakers' offseason has been a rollercoaster thus far. Amid the flurry of recent offseason moves and rumors, NBA insider Jake Weinbach sparked trade speculation around Lakers guard Austin Reaves in light of the team's approach towards roster construction. He tweeted: "Austin Reaves' situation with the Lakers is one to monitor across the league. Reaves reportedly declined a four-year, $89.2M extension from the Lakers last month and is widely expected to decline his $14.8M player option next summer to become an unrestricted free agent." "If the two sides are far apart on extension talks, the Lakers may shop the value of the 27-year-old guard to avoid the possibility of losing him for nothing once 2026 free agency comes around." Reaves is one of the Lakers' most valuable assets. Given what the 27-year-old brings to the floor nightly, he is effectively viewed as the team's third star. The Lakers guard is expected to earn $13,937,574 in the upcoming season. When factoring in his averages of 20.2 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 5.8 assists per game, it is clear that he is outperforming his contract. While this is beneficial for the Purple and Gold, Reaves is aware of his value to the team and his market worth. As Weinbach mentioned, Reaves recently declined the team's max extension offer. This was primarily because, as a free agent, the 27-year-old is expected to demand nearly $30 million annually in his next contract. A four-year, $89.2 million deal pales in comparison. This is a concern for the Lakers, as it also goes against their outlook for the summer of 2026. The Lakers' offseason moves have been centered around acquiring short-term deals that will clear up cap space for the 2026 offseason. This is primarily to give the team enough room to make a splash by signing a superstar in free agency. With this approach in mind, presenting a max offer to Reaves may not be in the Lakers' best interest. When also considering that he may be a free agent as soon as the next offseason, the Purple and Gold would look to capitalize on the current situation by gauging his value on the trade market. Reaves is an immensely talented guard. His unique ability to score and create opportunities for his teammates has seen a lot of teams show an interest in him this offseason, seeing him linked in several trade rumors as well. Given the Lakers' most recent roster additions, the team is gearing up to be competitive in the West. While retaining Reaves would undoubtedly be of benefit to the team, trading him could bring back a star-caliber player in the right deal. Although the Lakers guard has expressed his desire to remain with the team, the Purple and Gold may be forced into a situation where they'd have to revisit the option of trading story was originally reported by Fadeaway World on Jul 21, 2025, where it first appeared.
