Egor Demin’s numbers may fluctuate, but his demeanor never does.
The 19-year-old has approached every part of his rookie season in Brooklyn with calm and confidence. He’s patient, honest about his play and fully aware of the work still ahead.
After scoring a career-high 16 points in Tuesday’s 119-109 loss to the Toronto Raptors, Demin kept that same balance. The 6-9 guard spoke with self-awareness about his growth, proving again that his poise might be his most valuable skill.
“I think everything comes with reps and repetition,” Demin said. “And I think Jordi [Fernández] talks about this a lot, for us as a group and for me personally. And I think that’s a big part of my transition on this level, is just getting used to those things that I haven’t met before. On the pick-and-roll, the physicality, looking at the different coverages and things like that, and obviously the ball pressure.”
That repetition is already paying off.
“People were trying to press me because they know I can lose the ball sometimes, but I’m getting more comfortable with it, for sure, because as I said, it’s just repetition,” said Demin, who finished with just one turnover against Toronto after committing three in Sunday’s loss to the Knicks. “And as I get more comfortable with it, I’ll [understand] that more.”
Demin continues to fly under the radar among 2025 lottery picks, but he’s gradually finding his rhythm. Through his first 10 games, he’s averaged 7.1 points, 3.2 rebounds and 3.3 assists while shooting 39.3% from the field, 37.5% from 3-point range and 83.3% from the line. Over his last three starts, those numbers have ticked up to 11.3 points, 3.7 rebounds and 5.0 assists with 1.7 turnovers. He’s shooting 48% from the floor and 47.1% from deep. The improvement has not been dramatic, but it has been steady and meaningful.
Another promising sign has been his willingness to drive into contact. After going 2-for-7 on two-point attempts through his first seven games, he has converted 4-of-8 in his last three, showing better balance, touch and control around the rim.
One of the biggest lessons for Demin has been learning how little space there is to operate at this level. His college coach at BYU, Kevin Young, told him the NBA would feel more open. But Demin, the eighth overall pick, quickly learned that size, speed and awareness close those gaps fast. Even with defensive three-second rules, pros can anticipate every angle and take away openings before he can find a seam.
“Sometimes you think the defender is helping so much, but then he’s quick enough to get on the ball and steal the pass,” Demin said. “People are more experienced. I think nowadays, there is playmaking not only on offense but on defense. You face those playmakers individually and really good teams who understand how to play mind games. That’s probably the difference.”
Nic Claxton said Demin is still learning the rhythm of the game, figuring out when to attack and when to stay patient, but he’s encouraged by how quickly the rookie is picking things up. The veteran center added that the two often talk during games and practices, working to build timing and chemistry in the pick-and-roll.
Demin’s poise has started to show in those moments. Each game, he looks more in control and more comfortable using his length to absorb contact and create for others. He’s begun to understand that when he gets into the paint, good things tend to happen, whether it is a finish at the rim, a kick-out to a shooter or a simple read that keeps the offense moving.
It’s a sign of a player starting to feel the pace of the league.
“We all believe that he belongs,” Fernández said. “The challenge now is sustaining it. And then, going into the defensive end, being more efficient, and learning from his minutes.”
