Latest news with #Demin
USA Today
2 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Nets' Egor Demin explains one area he's trying to improve upon
Brooklyn Nets guard Egor Demin is heading into a 2025-26 NBA season in which he'll have to prove that he was worth the eighth overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft. Demin had some concerns surrounding his shooting coming into the Las Vegas Summer League, but he has quelled those doubts for now. He has other matters that he's trying to address. "I think I might spend more time in the lifting room than on the court. Being honest, this is exactly where I'm focusing right now," Demin said in an interview during Friday's 87-83 loss to the Philadelphia 76ers in the summer league. Demin did not participate in the game as the Nets were looking to evaluate other players on the roster, giving him the chance to address the many topics related to him. "I'm super aware of myself, I'll say that and what I need to get better at," Demin continued. " So, I'm living in the lifting room. I'm not getting upset because I know how much work I put into this. So, it's just a question of time." Demin, listed at 6-foot-8 and 200 pounds, is on the lighter side when it comes to his build, especially at his height compared to most players in the NBA. Demin came into the Draft regarded as the best passer in the class and while he did less playmaking than many Nets fans were expecting after averaging just 1.3 assists per game, the former BYU Cougar showed his improved to shoot the basketball. In three games during the summer league, Demin averaged 11.3 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 1.0 steals per game while shooting 40.7% from the field and 43.5% from three-point land. Not only did Demin shoot the ball well from deep, he did that on 7.7 three-point attempts per game, significantly more than the 4.7 three-point attempts per game he averaged during his freshman season at BYU. Demin seems determined to work on his weaknesses.
New York Post
4 days ago
- Sport
- New York Post
Egor Demin, Danny Wolf come up big to lead Nets to first summer league win
LAS VEGAS — Egor Demin and Danny Wolf had their most impactful games so far in the summer league. It's no coincidence the Nets got their first victory, a 94-90 escape against Orlando. They escaped because Wolf helped the Nets build a 23-point lead, and — after they frittered it away to just one — Demin closed it out with three huge 3-pointers in the final 2:37 to seal the win. 'Just happy for him. Those were big shots. He stepped in, took them and made them,' said Nets assistant Steve Hetzel, who is coaching summer league. 'He probably felt a sense of relief. This is what he's been trying to show everybody, how good of a player he is. 'We asked the guys to just play one full clean game, and I thought we did three quarters. And then obviously the 39 points in the fourth was kind of a mess.' A hot mess. Behind Wolf (18 points, six rebounds, four assists), the Nets built a 23-point cushion. They still led 77-62 before they allowed a 16-2 run to see it shrink to 79-78 with 2:37 left. That's when Demin — who had 14 points, five rebounds and shot 4-of-8 from deep — shook off early struggles and six turnovers to hit three 3-pointers down the stretch. Danny Wolf, who scored 18 points, looks to make a move during the Nets' 94-90 summer league win over the Magic on July 16, 2025. NBAE via Getty Images The Russian calmly drilled the first from the left corner to stem the tide and made it 82-78 with 2:36 left. Then he hit a transition heat check, and finally a dagger to pad it to 91-83 with 33 seconds to play. The Nets saw it out from there. 'Yeah, it's exciting,' said Demin. 'It's cool. After a couple of turnovers in the row I got a little frustrated. Playing off the ball, I got a couple of catch-and-shoots and one in transition. Exciting for me that they want in.' Egor Demin, who scored 14 points, looks to make a play during the Nets' summer league win over the Magic. NBAE via Getty Images 'Our turnovers and some of the mistakes earlier on caused this comeback. Now it's almost like, OK, how can I prove, right? How can I get it back? That was because in theory it was because of me, right? Part of it was mine, part of it was Danny. And we wanted to get it back.' Demin has largely played well on both ends in summer league action, but has been on the wing in few pick-and-rolls, and hasn't penetrated. But he had arguably his favorite dunk with a strong drive in the first quarter. Wolf on the other hand had to shake off struggles. He'd admittedly gotten sped up and came in averaging just six points on 27.3 percent shooting. But starting at center for the first time with Drew Timme sitting (along with Ben Saraf and Nolan Traoré), Wolf benefitted from better spacing. And slowing himself down. 'I was just a little bit too sped up,' Wolf said. 'I just went into this game with just a more relaxed mindset, just let the game come to me a little bit better and do what I do best and just play a little bit slower. And I think I did that to the best of my ability.'
USA Today
5 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Nets G Egor Demin explains why he chose #8 for his jersey
Nets G Egor Demin on why he chose the #8:"I chose #8 because one half of 8 is my first letter in my name (1/2 of 8 looks like E) and the second half is #3, the day I was born in the 3rd month."Demin was born March 3, 2006, or 03/03/ Brooklyn Nets guard Egor Demin chose to wear the #8 on his jersey to being his NBA career after being selected by the Nets with the eighth overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft. Demin is one of the players that Brooklyn will be relying on to show what he can do on the court as the team tries to speed up this rebuild and he explained why he chose his current number. "I chose #8 because one half of 8 is my first letter in my name (1/2 of 8 looks like E) and the second half is #3, the day I was born in the 3rd month," Demin said in a video posted on the NBA app. While the first part of his explanation is obvious, the second of why he chose the number eight is interesting because he was born on March 3, 2006. Demin, 19, came to the Nets after spending the 2024-25 season as a member of the BYU Cougars after spending the 2023 season playing for Spanish club Real Madrid. Demin came to the United States as somewhere between a four-star and five-star recruit and once he enrolled at BYU, he was the school's first five-star recruit in the history of the school. Demin, listed at 6-foot-9 and 200 pounds, has played two games for Brooklyn thus far in the Las Vegas Summer League and Nets fans have been understandably curious about how he has looked. Demin is averaging 10.0 points, 4.0 rebounds, and 2.0 assists per game while shooting 33.3% from the field and 40.0% from three-point land, one of the areas that NBA Draft experts were worried about. Demin was regarded as the best passer in this draft given the way that he uses his height to find windows that most point guards cannot see along with his feathery touch to maximize his accuracy. While Demin has averaged 1.5 turnovers per game, his shooting numbers from the free-throw line and long-range have been encouraging as Brooklyn is hoping his shooting can improve sooner than later.
USA Today
6 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Nets vs. Knicks summer league game preview: How to watch, lineups
The Brooklyn Nets (0-2) have not had the start to the Las Vegas Summer League that they were hoping for when they made their debut for this event on last Thursday. The good news is that Brooklyn gets another chance to earn their first win of the summer league on Tuesday against the New York Knicks. The Nets have seen solid performances out of players like Drew Timme and Nolan Traore over the course of their two games thus far, but everyone will be tested against this Knicks squad. For New York, they have been relying on Kevin McCullar Jr. and Pacome Dadiet as players the team is hoping can take the next step during the 2025-26 season to help the franchise move further in the playoffs. Brooklyn has been trying to play at the fast pace that head coach Jordi Fernandez wants to play while maintaining the free-flowing nature of allowing other players to make plays within the flow of the game. With that being said, here's what you need to know to get ready for Tuesday's game against the Knicks: How To Watch Probable Starting Lineups Brooklyn Nets New York Knicks Who To Watch Drew Timme has been incredible for the Nets through two games as he is averaging 26.0 points, 7.0 rebounds, and 2.0 assists per game while shooting 62.2% from the field and 30.0% from three-point land. However, it has been clear for awhile that Timme can play in the NBA after what he did last season in a limited sample size and what he's done thus far in Vegas. One player to watch for against the Knicks is Egor Demin, the eighth overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft and the player that most Nets fans are curious about. Demin has not had a breakout game in the summer league just yet, but it looks like his confidence is growing as he gets more comfortable with the NBA game and how physical the players are allowed to be. Demin put up better counting numbers against the Wizards than he did in his debut against the Thunder, but his shooting percentages have not been encouraging to this point. Demin is not going to turn into a knockdown shooter over night, but it would ease some concerns about his ability to play off the ball if he were to shoot the ball better attacking the rim and finishing in the paint.
USA Today
14-07-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Nets summer league player grades: Drew Timme drops 30 vs. Wizards
LAS VEGAS -- The Brooklyn Nets were disappointed by their Las Vegas Summer League debut on Thursday when they lost to the Oklahoma City Thunder in what was a winnable game for the Nets. Brooklyn had the chance to redeem themselves with a matchup against Tre Johnson and the Washington Wizards on Sunday, but the Nets weren't able to come out on top despite some solid performances. The Nets lost to the Wizards on Sunday 102-96 despite center Drew Timme going off for 30 points, five rebounds, and three assists while guard Tyson Etienne had 15 points and three assists. Part of the reason for the loss was Brooklyn being unable to contain Tre Johnson, the sixth overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, as he dropped 21 points and three rebounds. Ultimately, the Nets were pretty much in lockstep with the Wizards in terms of the general statistical categories, but Brooklyn shooting just 53.3% from the free-throw line didn't help matters. With that being said, the Nets are now 0-2 in Las Vegas with three games to go so here are the Nets player grades following Sunday's loss to the Wizards: Egor Demin: C+ Demin did not shoot the ball well in this one, but the good news is that he's keeping the confidence to continue taking shots, even if they aren't falling on a regular basis. Demin shot 10 three-pointers and while he was just 4-for-10 from that range, his shooting will be tested during the season so he has to start getting used to the high volume. Demin finished with a solid overall line of 12 points, four rebounds, and four assists. Tyson Etienne: B+ Etienne had one of the best performances on the team as he caught fire from behind the three-point line and didn't mind getting 12 attempts up over the course of the game, either. Etienne has already earned one of the three Two-Way spots on the team so at this point, he is looking to work on the weaknesses of his game and provide veteran leadership to the younger players on the roster. TJ Bamba: C- Bamba drew the start in the wake of the Nets electing to bring Nolan Traore off the bench and not play with three point guards on the floor at the same time within the starting lineup. Bamba did not shoot the ball well, but he provided strong defense while making plenty of effort plays that Brooklyn benefitted from over the course of what was a tightly-contested game. Danny Wolf: A Wolf had the kind of bounceback performance that he was hoping for after Thursday's rough outing in the loss to the Thunder. Wolf stuffed the stat sheet in every way possible against the Wizards as he was efficient shooting the ball from long range while being all over the boards. In addition to that, Wolf was a menace on the defensive end of the floor as he totaled three steals and four blocks. Drew Timme: A+ Timme had the kind of outing in this one that might show that he doesn't need anything out of Summer League other than to just pad his stats. Timme had another standout performance as he used impressive footwork to score on whoever was guarding him, even Wizards forward Alex Sarr, who had his own version of a block party as well. Nolan Traore: B- Traore surprisingly didn't start in this one and while he did tweak his ankle in Thursday's loss to the Thunder, he looked fine against Washington and was a blur with the ball in his hands like usual. Traore did not have the kind of efficient outing that he had in his Summer League debut as he struggled to finish over the likes of Sarr as he was waiting at the rim the entire game. Ben Saraf: B- Saraf got the chance to have the ball in his hands more than he did on Thursday and the results were up and down throughout the game. Saraf had some nice moments getting to the rim and setting up his teammates with some helpful assists, but he also had some instances where Washington's ball pressure was too much for him to handle.
