The Brooklyn Nets’ Egor Dëmin received the ball in the corner, completely unmarked, with just 34 seconds remaining in their summer league match against the Orlando Magic last Wednesday. Instantly, NBA analyst Isiah Thomas voiced his concern: “You can’t leave that guy.”
Despite pre-draft analyses questioning his shooting abilities, Dëmin proved to be an effective shooter during this summer league. He made a crucial three-pointer, validating Thomas’ observation.

When the Nets picked Dëmin as the No. 8 draft choice, many deemed it a risky move, anticipating he would struggle as a shooter. However, recent performances may suggest otherwise. During his time at summer league, he has shown more resemblance to Klay Thompson than to Shaun Livingston.

As a 6-foot-9 player, Dëmin has adapted his game, calling himself a “playmaker” instead of a point guard. He’s focused on enhancing his skills as a cutter and screener. General Manager Sean Marks noted that Dëmin displayed shooting competence during his workouts with the Nets. Dëmin’s shooting percentage at summer league has been impressive, making 43% of his attempts.

However, early assessments should remain cautious, as this is only a small sample size—10 successful shots from 27 attempts across three exhibition games. Dëmin’s passing, vision, and game understanding promise significant potential; if he continues to improve his shooting, he could turn out to be a key player for the Nets in the future.

Quotes:
“He’s going against experienced players, and the physicality is something he’s going to need to adapt to,” stated Steve Hetzel, assistant coach for the Nets. Dëmin himself acknowledges the transition, emphasizing the importance of strength training to enhance his playmaking capabilities.