Demins Debuts with Promising Performance
TORONTO — Egor Demin, the rookie for the Nets, made his much-anticipated debut on Friday, leaving both fans and the team pleased with his performance.
After missing out on training camp and most of the preseason due to a foot injury, the young athlete stepped onto the NBA court for the first time. He seemed right at home and perhaps even stood out among the trio of first-round point guards on the Nets.
“He was great,” manager Jordi Fernandez commented after the team’s 119-114 loss to Toronto. “There are definitely areas he needs to work on moving forward. We need to enhance his physicality so he can play longer stretches. Still, I’m really happy with how composed he was, how he communicated with his teammates, and he made things look effortless.”
“Whenever he found himself open or even somewhat open, he took the shot, went to the free-throw line, and he rebounded well. Five boards and some excellent plays at the rim—it was impressive.”
Demin ended the night with 14 points on 3-of-5 shooting, including 2-of-3 from beyond the arc. He also recorded one assist, one block, and two turnovers, along with a solid 6-of-7 from the free-throw line. His ability to manage against the Raptors’ size and physical style bodes well for his confidence moving forward.
“Absolutely. There’s been a lot of buzz about the Raptors being one of the toughest teams, in terms of pressure nearly throughout the game,” Demin reflected. “I wouldn’t say I was scared, but I was definitely mindful of the challenge. The first game was a bit of an eye-opener for me… So, I’m genuinely glad we had this experience. It’s a valuable lesson, and I’m excited for the season to kick off.”
His initial outing was promising, with a plus-one rating in just under 19 minutes off the bench. Despite not participating in training camp, he seemed more at ease than teammates Ben Saraf and Nolan Traore.
The 19-year-old who graduated from BYU had been dealing with a torn plantar fascia, which he clarified was an issue that originated even before the draft in June, rather than during the Summer League in Las Vegas.
“It was a gradual injury. It started quite early and just kept worsening,” Demin explained prior to the game. “Initially, it was one thing, but then it turned into something more complex.”
His injury kept him out of the early training camp sessions and the final Summer League game. He wasn’t cleared for full-contact scrimmaging until the Nets’ trip to China.
The 6-foot-8 player recognized that this is something he and the team will need to manage throughout his rookie season.
“Sure, probably. It might take some time to fully recover,” Demin noted. “But as long as we play it safe, I think I’ll be okay.”
He doesn’t foresee a need for any cleanup procedures or surgery post-season. Right now, his focus is on catching up with his teammates and adjusting to the NBA’s physical demands.
Once he fully grasps his potential, there’s a belief he can significantly enhance his passing skills.
“Oh yeah, he’s solid. He’ll get really good,” Michael Porter Jr. expressed. “For his height, if he can adapt all his point guard abilities to the professional level, he’ll definitely become a challenge for opponents.”
“He understands the game well and makes the right decisions. Sure, it might take him a while to adjust to the physicality expected from an NBA point guard, but once he acclimates, watch out.”
His teammates are already feeling impressed.
“He was great. Really great. Sure, it’s just preseason, but it was an excellent way to start,” Cam Thomas commented. “We’ll see how he does in Charlotte, but it was definitely a strong beginning for him.”
