Egor Demin, the Brooklyn Nets’ first lottery pick in 15 years, has made an impressive start to his rookie season, effectively dispelling any doubts about his shooting ability. Having successfully connected on seven of his initial 11 three-point attempts, Demin currently boasts a 40.9% shooting average from beyond the arc over his first four games.
“It’s a testament to his hard work,” praised head coach Jordi Fernández. “The coaches have been working closely with him, and when you put in the effort, you start to see the results. When you take those shots during a game, you trust in all the preparation you’ve done beforehand.”
Brooklyn’s decision to draft Demin with the eighth pick wasn’t just to have him fill the role of a sharpshooter in the style of Joe Harris. The team envisions him as their primary playmaker. However, his early performances suggest there’s more to explore in terms of his playmaking abilities.
In the first four games, Demin has attempted all 22 of his shots from the three-point line, showing a reluctance to drive towards the basket. His assist average sits at 2.5, with his best performance being four assists in a game against the Cleveland Cavaliers. As he approaches Sunday’s game against the Philadelphia 76ers at Barclays Center, Demin is only two three-point attempts away from setting a new league record for the most three-pointers without a single two-point shot to start a career.
Even by rookie standards, his hesitance to attack the rim stands out. With the Nets’ other rookie guards contributing minimally to the offense, veteran forward Terance Mann had to take on more of the playmaking responsibilities during Wednesday’s defeat to the Atlanta Hawks, while Demin remained on the bench throughout the final quarter.
Although Brooklyn’s offense has maintained its ground, unlocking its full potential hinges on Demin and his fellow rookie guards enhancing their ability to create movement and spacing for the team.
“I think it starts with the point guard spot,” Michael Porter Jr. said. “We have a lot of rookie point guards who are going to be great in this league for a long time, but they’re still rookies… I think the point guard position may be the hardest position in the game, and we have a lot of young guys playing that position. So, it’s really hard to win when that point guard spot isn’t solidified.”
Demin clearly has progress to make in that area, but he’s shown an understanding of his own limitations, and that awareness is often where real development begins.
“I think mentality is a big part of it, how aggressive I am mentally,” Demin said. “For now, I wish I was more aggressive putting pressure on the rim. And I think that is what I’m missing in my game right now… That is where it’s going to open up so many more opportunities for all of us — me personally and my teammates. I think that’s something I’ve got to overall get together physicality-wise, technical-wise and mentally.”
Fernández said the Nets are encouraging Demin to expand his game beyond the arc and become more assertive attacking the paint. He noted that while the rookie’s perimeter shooting has already made him a threat, the next step is learning how to draw contact, make reads off two feet and create for others when defenses collapse.
“He’s got to figure it out,” Fernández said. “Obviously, I want him to touch the paint. Everybody will figure it out that he’s a threat from the 3-point line, but he cannot play just behind the 3.”
