Egor Demin Shows Early Dividends of Offseason Work in Nets' Preseason Opener
Brooklyn's young guard demonstrates improved driving and passing, earning a start in the team's first preseason game.
When the Nets tipped off their preseason Tuesday night in Charlotte, a strong offseason by Egor Dëmin had buoyed hopes of a potential sophomore leap. Brooklyn’s young guard stated he is not the player he was in summer league.
“Yeah, my goal is to translate not just a part of what I did in summer league, but even more, right?” Dëmin said. “Obviously I had some more time after summer league, and I kept working on that stuff. And I think I’m even better right now than I was in summer league.”
Dëmin starting the Nets’ 124-90 preseason-opening win over the Hornets was hardly a surprise, but his getting the nod at point guard was noteworthy and encouraging. Dëmin’s playing time was limited, though his 18 minutes and 26 seconds led all starters.
He hit 2-of-3 from 3-point range for six points, but his repeated paint touches unlocked his passing. He handed out a game-high-tying five assists, including a second-quarter drive down the lane and behind-the-back pass to Day’Ron Sharpe for a dunk.
This performance indicated not only the Nets’ faith that he was more capable of handling on-ball duties but also a shift in strategy. The team appears less intent on force-feeding minutes to their sophomore point guards regardless of struggles, and more focused on playing the best available players to win.
After two years of tanking, this approach could be a welcome sight for fans. Brooklyn tanked through two arduous seasons to secure consecutive lottery picks, which became Dëmin and then Mikel Brown Jr. Dëmin taking a significant leap would allow the Nets to advance their rebuild and potentially exceed expectations.
“To win as many games as possible,” Dëmin said. “Our process is oriented now on getting there each day, at least a little bit, but getting there, no matter whether it’s a game day, practice day, or an update.”
Dëmin acknowledged his previous struggles with driving to the basket, noting he was often turned away at the point of attack and kept out of the paint. However, his progress over the summer has been encouraging.
Work with head strength and conditioning coach Alvin Dike has enabled Dëmin to get bigger and stronger, benefiting his downhill game. After going 1-for-4 inside the arc during his rookie summer league, Dëmin showed more effectiveness in the paint during the recent summer league, converting 22-of-29 attempts.
“I’m excited to play with Egor,” said teammate Michael Porter Jr. “He’s a phenomenal shooter and scorer, but also a great passer. So he can do a lot of things on the court, rebound, push the break, shoot the ball. And now that he’s getting in the paint and finishing around the rim, he’ll make a humongous jump.”
The preseason opener provided Dëmin’s first opportunity to showcase these improvements against NBA competition. With Brown still recovering from a rolled ankle, the Nets needed a lead guard.
Coach Jordi Fernández opted to start Dëmin at point guard, with veteran Keon Ellis at off-guard, rather than starting Nolan Traore or Ben Saraf. This decision highlighted Brooklyn's need for Ellis's point-of-attack defense and demonstrated confidence in Dëmin’s improved driving ability. It also allows the Nets to stagger the minutes of Dëmin and Brown, while leveraging the defense of Ellis and/or Terance Mann.
“Yeah, I can’t rave on Egor enough in terms of the work he’s put in, the difference that I’m seeing with him playing,” Porter said. “And Egor was a dude who already last year had such big flashes. He showed a lot of clutch performances. He showed his fearlessness, his shooting ability. And working with [Dike] in the weight room, [he looks] better and different.
“Egor is a lot more comfortable with the ball in his hands as a point guard. Guys aren’t able to crowd him and be physical around him. He’s very comfortable with the ball in his hands. He’s also, as a scorer, touching the paint more, getting downhill more, looks very comfortable finishing around the rim. So Egor is very comfortable playing the point guard position or the shooting guard position. He definitely has physically matured enough to play the point guard if that’s needed, because guys aren’t bothering him when he’s pressured.”