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Dëmin’s Offseason Growth Translating in Nets' Preseason
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- Dëmin’s Offseason Growth Translating in Nets' Preseason
(Jim Dedmon/Imagn Images)
Egor Dëmin opened the preseason with a strong start in the Brooklyn Nets ' 124-90 win over the Charlotte Hornets on Tuesday.
He scored six points on 2-for-5 shooting (2-for-3 from three) and had five assists in 18 minutes. The stats don't look impressive, but the way he created his assists shows promising progression.
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Dëmin had a flashy behind-the-back pass to Day'Ron Sharpe, who finished with a strong dunk in the second quarter. He attacked a sloppy closeout, got two feet in the paint and forced Hornets center Ryan Kalkbrenner to rotate.
The second-year guard didn't make those plays consistently as a rookie, as most of his shot attempts were threes. He finished as the fifth-best rookie shooter, shooting 38.5% and making 124 threes, ranking fourth-best.
Brooklyn's 2025 first-round pick showed immense growth as a downhill driver in the California Classic and Las Vegas Summer League. He shot perfectly from inside the arc, even while he struggled with his shooting.
Dëmin opened the California Classic with 23 points on 8-for-15 shooting against the Sacramento Kings .
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His efficiency and 20-plus point performances earned him All-Summer League second team. Dëmin's work in the weight room paid off in the summer and is paying off in the preseason.
The Nets' offense completely changes when the 20-year-old diversifies his attack. He's an elite three-point shooter, and attacking closeouts fits coach Jordi Fernández's offensive scheme.
Fernández runs a free-flowing offense. It features fast-paced ball movement, and Dëmin's growth as a downhill driver keeps Brooklyn on the run.
Dëmin is part of the Flatbush Five, a group of the five first-round picks from last year. His development is a determining factor in general manager Sean Marks' approach to using the plethora of draft picks the Nets have.
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Marks has accumulated 13 first-round picks over the past several seasons.
Dëmin's performance is a one-game sample against a depleted Hornets squad. Charlotte missed Coby White, Kon Knueppel, Brandon Miller and rookie Christian Anderson.
He'll need to build a stronger case across the next three preseason games. Brooklyn will play the Philadelphia 76ers on Thursday, the Washington Wizards next Monday and close preseason against the Miami Heat next Wednesday.
He could sit out one game for rest, and Fernández could give the Exhibit 10 and two-way players more run.
Dëmin's growth is a promising sign for the Nets' future. He's cementing his role as a starter on a rookie-scale contract.
