This past Sunday, the Nets showcased their future potential by matching a franchise record for the largest victory margin, defeating the Bucks 127-82 at Barclays Center.
During the fourth quarter, four of Brooklyn’s five first-round picks from the 2025 draft—Egor Demin, Drake Powell, Danny Wolf, and Nolan Traore—shared the court. It was a significant moment for the team, although they could have had all five on the floor had guard Ben Saraf not missed the game due to illness.
Acting head coach Steve Hetzel, stepping in for the unwell Jordi Fernandez, expressed satisfaction with the development of the young players. “I think for each of them, we’re glad about their progress, even with the ups and downs typical of rookies,” Hetzel noted.
He pointed out their ages: three of them are 19, while Drake is 20 and Danny is 21. “This entire experience will be immensely beneficial for them,” he added.
Earlier in the 2021-22 season, the Nets had also fielded four rookies at once: David Duke Jr., Kessler Edwards, Dayron Sharpe, and Cam Thomas. However, only Sharpe and Thomas were first-round picks, unlike the current lineup.
The season had a rough start, with an early record of zero wins and seven losses, then three wins and sixteen losses. But December’s games have shown a turn in momentum, boasting a recent 4-2 record, including a home victory over the Heat.
Ben Saraf, picked 26th, started the season as the primary point guard, while Demin, the eighth pick overall, moved into the starting lineup on November 7th, averaging 9.9 points and 3.9 assists in his 16 games as a starter.
Demin excelled in the game against the Bucks, scoring a team-high 17 points on six-of-eight shooting during 26 minutes. His strong performance followed a critique from coach Fernandez for a quieter outing against the Mavericks.
“It’s all a process, of course you want to improve with every game. But some days are just tougher,” commented Demin. “I need to analyze what went wrong and figure out how to improve. I’ll discuss it with the coaches and then focus on the next game, recognizing we have a lot more ahead.”
Coach Fernandez had also recently brought Powell into the mix, who contributed 13 points on Sunday with a notable plus-31 in just 23 minutes off the bench.
“I’m very proud of both Demin and Powell,” Hetzel remarked. “Jordi challenged Egor to step up, and he delivered beautifully, taking a significant step forward.”
Reflecting on the challenge of the NBA, Hetzel emphasized, “Having an off game and then bouncing back is part of it. With an 82-game season, it’s crucial to shake off the last game and focus on performing better next.”
Hetzel, who joined Fernandez’s staff in 2024 after previous assistant coaching roles, noted that he’s gaining more confidence in Demin’s ability to manage the game under pressure.
He also praised Traore, who had three assists in nine minutes during the last part of the game. The French player, picked 19th, had mostly played in the G League until this point.
“I really appreciate his confidence,” Hetzel said. “His time in Long Island allowed him to develop significantly, and his performances there were impressive. It’s clear he has grown in confidence since his last appearance with us.”
