Brooklyn Nets guard Egor Demin had his 2025-26 rookie NBA season ended prematurely due to plantar fasciitis in his left foot that left some fans wondering how he would recover. Brooklyn saw Demin show more of his potential, especially with how well he shot the three-pointer compared to his one-and-done season at BYU and it looks like he carried that into this summer.
Demin has played so well during the California Classic that some around the league, specifically No Ceilings founder Tyler Rucker for the purpose of this article, arguing that the Russian has shown enough already. Through just two games in the Classic, Demin is averaging 23.0 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 3.0 assists per game while shooting 55.6% from the field and 26.7% from behind the three-point line.
Demin, 20, ended his rookie season with averages of 10.3 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 3.3 assists per game while shooting 39.9% from the floor and 38.5% from deep in 52 games played. The former BYU Cougar said prior to the Classic that he was focusing a significant portion of his time in the weight room so that he could get strong enough to be more of a threat off the dribble.
“[I’m] trying to drive to the rim as much as I can, more than I used to, and embrace the physicality, and my positional advantages,” Demin said after his first game in the Classic when he dropped 23 points and seven rebounds against the Sacramento Kings. “I would say from a size standpoint, and just been working on a lot of stuff that I want to execute this this year.”
Demin will likely play at the beginning of the Las Vegas Summer League, but it’s possible that if he continues to play well that he may just one or two games so that the Nets can evaluate the rest of the players on the roster. Whichever way it goes, Demin has showcased how much he has improved from last season and if he keeps going, he’ll have the kind of second year that will excite fans about the immediate future.
This article originally appeared on Nets Wire: Nets’ Egor Demin showing improvement in second stint of summer league
Reporting by Sharif Phillips-Keaton, Nets Wire / Nets Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Sharif Phillips-Keaton, Nets Wire | USA TODAY Network
