As Nets first-round pick Egor Dëmin begins his NBA career, he’s mentored by Andrei Kirilenko, widely considered the greatest Russian-born player in NBA history.
“Yes, I’ve talked to him through all of my career, if I can call it that,” Dëmin said. “But, moving to Spain, he was a part of the decision at some point. Moving to BYU, especially, obviously, because he lived in Utah, and for my parents, it was important to hear what he thought about the place. When I got picked by Brooklyn, he called me the next day, and we talked a little bit. He gave me some advice, and he just said that he’s happy for me, that he’s really happy that I’m in this organization.”
You remember the legend nicknamed “AK-47,” the first Russian selected in the first round of the NBA Draft and the impact he made whenever he stepped onto the hardwood.
Kirilenko, now 44, averaged 11.8 points, 5.5 rebounds, 1.4 steals and 1.8 blocks over 13 NBA seasons, beginning with the Utah Jazz and concluding with the Nets. His positional versatility and defensive tenacity earned him NBA All-Star honors in 2004 and multiple All-Defensive Team selections. He led the league in blocks in 2004–05, and internationally, he concluded his career as one of Russia’s finest talents.
Now Dëmin, who grew up in Moscow, aims to emulate Kirilenko’s legacy and fulfill the potential that made him the highest-drafted Russian player ever at No. 8 overall in the 2025 NBA Draft.
“I’m ready to be whatever they need me to be,” Dëmin said. “Part of my development is learning how to play on the ball, off the ball, setting screens and [coming off] screens, whatever it is, right? I’m just ready to execute whatever they ask me to do.”
Kirilenko likely sees much of himself in Dëmin, a fellow 6-9 standout with remarkable positional versatility, though Dëmin profiles as a point guard at this stage while Kirilenko primarily played small forward.
Like Kirilenko, Dëmin’s 6-9 frame should enable him to guard positions 1 through 5, switch seamlessly on defense, and contribute in multiple ways for the Nets, from a weak-side defender to a secondary ball-handler. While Dëmin may not reach Kirilenko’s defensive peak, his potential is undeniable.
Then there’s their exceptional court vision. Both stand out as facilitators despite their size, thriving in high-pace systems and getting teammates involved. Kirilenko was a trailblazer of positionless basketball in the early 2000s. Dëmin could represent its next evolution.
“Just being able to run coast to coast,” Dëmin said. “And for me, how efficient can I find those defensive rebounds and just find the outlet as fast as I can? Find somebody in front of me who can finish at the rim or find the corners… We can really play 1 through 5, everybody, right? There’s going to be rotations where we just switch everything. Well, it’s not my decision anymore, right? But what I’m trying to say is I believe there’s a lot of options I can bring to this team, and I can do whatever Coach needs me to do.”
Playing multiple positions in the NBA demands a certain build and skill set versatile enough to handle diverse challenges. Kirilenko mastered this, while Dëmin is just beginning to explore its depths. It requires guarding both perimeter shooters and post players while honing skills like ball-handling, pick-and-roll execution, post defense and perimeter shooting. Developing the high basketball IQ to read and react across positions can take years of film study, practice, and game experience.
That means Dëmin, with only one season at BYU, faces a steeper learning curve than most rookies entering the league. Balancing immediate contributions with long-term growth will be critical for the 19-year-old’s success in Brooklyn, demanding an unrelenting work ethic that the Nets believe he embodies.
“Going back to the positional size and his playmaking, obviously, it’s very important that we help each other and we give each other the best shot possible,” Nets head coach Jordi Fernandez said. “And I would believe that he can do it, playing pick-and-roll or simply making the right play. That’s who he is. If you watch him play, and you get to know him, you can see that right away. His ability to shoot the ball, he’s going to shoot the ball very well in this league. That is another thing that excites us, but also his work ethic. We know he’s going to show up. He’s going to work every day. That’s something that caught our eye.”
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