Latest news with #EgorDemin
Yahoo
a day ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Nets grades for every pick in historic 2025 NBA Draft
The Brooklyn Nets went into the 2025 NBA Draft with as many as six picks to use, including five in the first round after a multi-team trade prior to Wednesday. Heading into the Draft, Brooklyn was rumored to be a team that would be trying to move some of their picks given that bringing in five players would be a lot for the player development staff to handle. However, the Nets not only went against the grain by not trading any of their first-round picks, they made history by using those picks on players that fit a specific mold for how Brooklyn wants to play. Under general manager Sean Marks and head coach Jordi Fernandez, it seems that the team wants to operate in a way where every player on the floor can handle and move the ball in an effective manner. Advertisement There is also an international feel to Brooklyn's draft class as three of the five players (Egor Demin, Nolan Traore, and Ben Saraf) were born outside of the United States. With that being said, here are the grades for all of the picks that the Nets made along with the final grade for the entire class as a whole now that the Draft is over with: #8: Egor Demin, G, BYU Jun 25, 2025; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Egor Demin stands with NBA commissioner Adam Silver after being selected as the eighth pick by the Brooklyn Nets in the first round of the 2025 NBA Draft at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images Demin was probably the most surprising pick that Brooklyn made as they took him with the eighth overall pick in the Draft despite the fact that most mock drafts had him being taken outside of the Lottery at the earliest. Not only that, but at the time that the Nets picked Demin, players like Duke center Khaman Maluach and South Carolina forward Collin Murray-Boyles were still on the board. Advertisement As this pertains to Demin, Brooklyn did what it could to ensure they brought in the player that was considered the best passer in the class along with having the size to see over most guards at the next level. Demin has some concerns related to his shooting ability and decision-making with the ball in his hands, but at the very least, he should be able to effectively run the offense for Fernandez. Grade: C #19: Nolan Traore, G, France Jun 25, 2025; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Nolan Traore stands with NBA commissioner Adam Silver after being selected as the 19th pick by the Brooklyn Nets in the first round of the 2025 NBA Draft at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images Traore was the continuation of a theme that the Nets were using for this draft in the sense that they wanted as many ball-handlers on the team as possible, whether or not the players were polished yet. Traore doesn't have the positional size of someone like Demin, but the Frenchman has the burst necessary to get by most defenders, something that could open his game up in the NBA. Advertisement Traore has some questions to answer with regards to his game outside of handling the ball and passing it, such as his shooting and finishing at the rim when he does get a step on his defender. In the present age of basketball, the most effective point guards are the ones who can score and pass to reasonably-high degrees to keep opposing defenses on their toes. Traore has some work to do. Grade: C+ #22: Drake Powell, G/F, UNC Drake Powell, University of North Carolina guard. Powell was an interesting pick for the Nets given that he broke the trend of Brooklyn taking players with some form of ball-handling in their future. That's not to say that Powell won't ever learn to make something happen with the ball in his hands, but as of now, he profiles to be a player who spends most of his time off the ball spreading the floor and defending on the other end. Advertisement What makes Powell an interesting prospect is some of his physical traits, such as the 7-foot wingspan in a 6-foot-5, 200-pound frame or the fact that he shot 37.0% from three-point range last season prior to posting a 43-inch vertical at the Combine. Powell is just 19-years-old and while his role at North Carolina was very limited, Fernandez and company will be trying to get as much out of him as possible given his tools. Grade: B #26: Ben Saraf, G, Israel Israeli guard Ben Saraf Saraf was a puzzling pick given that the Nets had already taken two players with the projection of being ball-handlers (Demin and Traore) and one player who would be on the wing (Powell), Saraf seemed more like a luxury than a necessity. Granted, Brooklyn is not in a position to worry about roster fit and Saraf at least has the makings of a player who could be the most natural playmaker in this class. Advertisement Saraf has great positional size (6-foot-6, 199 pounds), has experience playing professional basketball and excelling in that setting, and should be able to contribute right away as a passer and scorer. What will allow Saraf to reach his ceiling is if he is able to improve his shooting and defense to the point that he won't be a liability for Fernandez and the coaching staff. Grade: C #27: Danny Wolf, F, Michigan Jun 25, 2025; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Danny Wolf stands with NBA commissioner Adam Silver after being selected as the 27th pick by the Brooklyn Nets in the first round of the 2025 NBA Draft at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images Wolf was the fifth and last pick for the Nets in the first round and aside from his brother showing enough emotion for the both of them, the Michigan forward actually seemed like a fun pick. Wolf was consistent with the theme of being a guy who can make something with the ball in his hands, but he manages to do that in a 6-foot-11, 250-pound frame. Advertisement While Wolf showed his ability to be a big man that can run an offense, there are still questions about his fit at the NBA level, most notably his spot on the floor. Wolf is seemingly destined to play primarily at power forward given that he isn't that disruptive protecting the rim as a center, but also has concerns related to how consistent his shooting will be. Big men like Wolf are hard to come by, however. Grade: C+ Conclusion Jun 25, 2025; Brooklyn, NY, USA; General view after the first round of the 2025 NBA Draft at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images In the end, the Nets remain determined to take as many players that are able to make plays with the ball in his hands despite the fact that most of those players have questionable futures due to various flaws in their respective games. Demin, Traore, and Saraf all have to improve their shooting and/or defensive ability if they're going to be difference-makers while someone like Wolf will have to show that his versatility can translate to the next level. Advertisement Powell appears to be the player that is the closest to contributing on an NBA floor next season because his skillset lends itself to someone being able to shoot and play defense without much projection for either of those aspects. However, Powell did not have that big of a role in college so his ultimate question is whether he is still effective as a player once his role and usage are scaled up. Brooklyn's draft was polarizing across the NBA landscape as most people did not like the fact that they took so many ball-handlers in the same draft while the minority praised the Nets for committing to a specific set of traits that they wanted to lean into. Marks and Fernandez will have to hope that these gambles on players that are merely projects at this point are able to develop to the point where they are capable NBA players. Final grade: C- This article originally appeared on Nets Wire: Nets grades for every pick in historic 2025 NBA Draft
Time of India
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Egor Demin celebrates with girlfriend Delaney Gibb after Brooklyn Nets' pick
Egor Demin achieved his NBA dream on Wednesday, June 25. It happened after he was chosen by the Brooklyn Nets as the 8th overall pick in the NBA Draft. Demin then celebrated this achievement by embracing his girlfriend, Delaney Gibb. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now She also shared a photo of them enjoying themselves in Brooklyn. For draft night, Egor was dressed in a black tux, and Delaney was standing in a gorgeous dress. Egor Demin celebrates his Brooklyn Nets drafting with girlfriend After he was picked by the Brooklyn Nets, Egor Demin smiled, hugged his family, and stood proudly on stage. His girlfriend, Delaney Gibb, also accompanied him. This selection in the NBA marked a major achievement in his life. Gibb was there to support him at the event and later shared a celebratory story on her Instagram with the caption: "Go Nets!!" At the post-event interview, Egor Demin thanked his coaches and family members. He said that he's excited to join the Brooklyn Nets and ready to work hard. He further said: "Obviously, for me, it's a great opportunity to be in a team where I will be able to develop myself and also impact the game. That's (Nets) a historical club, a historical organization, and obviously it is related to Russia in the past ... and it's an honor for me to be a part of that.' Delaney Gibb also shared her thoughts as she said: 'He's obviously a great basketball player, but he's an even better person, and so I really think wherever he goes, he's going to be great. I may be biased. I may think he's going to go higher than other people but honestly I'm just excited to see where he goes.' On the other hand, after the event ended, player Travis Hansen took to X and praised Egor. He wrote: 'Still doesn't feel real… Egor just got drafted to the NBA. Proud doesn't even begin to cover it. He's put in the work, stayed humble, and now it's his moment. Grateful…' Egor Demin had come a long way. The ex-Real Madrid standout joined BYU last season and made a strong impression in his lone year with the Cougars. He had an average of 10.6 points and 5.5 assists per game, helping lead the team to the Sweet 16, where they were unfortunately defeated by second-seeded Alabama. Also read:
New York Post
2 days ago
- Sport
- New York Post
Analysts praise Nets for clear vision in risky draft haul
Now that the NBA Draft is in the rearview mirror, and the dust settled, the picture around the Nets has become clearer. And the big picture is this: The league has increasingly favored an archetype of size that can dribble, pass and shoot. The Nets used a record five first-round picks chasing that archetype, starting with lottery pick Egor Demin. The oversized Russian provides the first three of those traits.
New York Post
2 days ago
- Sport
- New York Post
Egor Demin knew moment his Nets draft fate was sealed
The Nets' selection of BYU star Egor Demin shocked most draft observers Wednesday night. But the Russian point guard's camp knew the instant Kon Knueppel came off the board that Demin had a great chance to land in Brooklyn. Advertisement And the Nets let them know before the rest of Barclays Center got the shock. 'A few dominoes fell,' former BYU star Travis Hansen told KSL Sports on Thursday. 'We knew we were right there with Kon Knueppel and Egor. Brooklyn really liked both of them, so once Kon went four, we knew we had a real chance to go to Brooklyn. 'At some point, we got a text from Brooklyn that said 'He's ours!' And we all got chills. Egor went straight Russian mode because he had no expression on his face, [but] I did. … I couldn't keep it in. I was so excited for him that [it] was Brooklyn. It's one of the top three places we wanted to go.' Advertisement 3 Egor Demin celebrates after being selected eighth by the Nets. AP It's obvious why Demin would want to go to Brooklyn. The rebuilding Nets are able to offer development, immediate playing time and a huge Russian community. 'It's a great opportunity to be in a team where I'll be able to develop myself and also impact the game any way I can and just learn a lot,' Demin said. 'That's a historical club, historical organization. Obviously, it's a lot related to Russia in the past, a lot of Russian players were going through this organization. For me, it's an honor to be a part of the Nets. 'It reminds me a little bit of Moscow, of my hometown, just in how active it is. All the town is alive, so many people, cars, all that. There's just something I like. This town, it never stops. This is something I like about this place. It's really alive. Obviously, a lot of Russian restaurants that I'm happy to visit. That's the first thing I'm going to do, probably.' Advertisement 3 NBA commissioner Adam Silver shakes hands with the No. 8 pick of the Nets' Egor Demin during the NBA Draft JASON SZENES/NY POST Well, the first thing he did was actually get a workout in at HSS Training Center on Thursday. Demin had worked out for the Nets three times in the predraft process, which is an inordinate amount. But he clearly made an impression. It wasn't only the Nets who were impressed with him. Thunder GM Sam Presti actually had Demin over to his house, and was reportedly considering trading up from No. 15 to draft him. Advertisement 3 Alabama forward Grant Nelson drives on Brigham Young guard Egor Demin (3) during the second half of a Sweet 16. AP Follow all the basketball buzz in Brooklyn Sign up for Inside the Nets by Brian Lewis, exclusively on Sports+. Thank you Enter your email address Please provide a valid email address. By clicking above you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Enjoy this Post Sports+ exclusive newsletter! Check out more newsletters Demin also impressed Atlanta with his basketball IQ. But in the end he landed with the Nets, who were working the phones for trades. 'Brooklyn's in that young development mode. It's exactly where we want him to be,' Hansen said. 'They're going to be patient with him and they're going to push him and he's going to have an opportunity to shine. So I don't know if there could've been a better fit. We definitely liked OKC, but Brooklyn's perfect for him.' Israel's official X account congratulated Israel's Ben Saraf and Israeli-American Danny Wolf for being drafted 26th and 27th, respectively, by the Nets. Advertisement Brooklyn signed Alabama's Grant Nelson to a two-way contract Thursday night after the forward went undrafted, The Post confirmed.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Nets' Egor Demin Name Drops Luka Doncic During NBA Draft
Nets' Egor Demin Name Drops Luka Doncic During NBA Draft originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The Brooklyn Nets came into Wednesday with five first-round picks, but they didn't trade up from No. 8. Instead, they drafted BYU guard Egor Demin at that slot. Advertisement The 19-year-old made the Big 12 All-Freshman Team with the Cougars this past season after averaging 10.6 points on 41.2 percent shooting (27.3 percent 3 PT) with 3.9 rebounds, 5.5 assists, and 1.2 steals. He also had 2.9 turnovers, almost half of his assist average. Demin also played for Real Madrid, just like Los Angeles Lakers star Luka Doncic. The former mentioned the latter as well as reigning MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander as NBA players he wants to emulate, via ClutchPoints' Erik Slater. Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) and guard Luka Doncic (77).© Jason Parkhurst-Imagn Images 'Big guards. The best players in the pick-and-roll on really high usage," he said. "They're the heads of the snake. Being able to anticipate and really control the game with the ball in their hands.' Advertisement Gilgeous-Alexander also won the scoring title and the NBA Finals MVP this past season. Demin hails from Russia and represented the country at the 2021 FIBA U16 European Challengers tournament, where he averaged 21.1 points and 6.9 rebounds per 40 minutes. He possesses a unique skillset as a pass-first guard at 6-foot-9-inches. Brooklyn also drafted French guard Nolan Traore at No. 19 overall, guard Ben Saraf out of Israel at No. 26, and Michigan forward Danny Wolf at No. 27. It also took North Carolina guard Drake Powell at No. 22, although the pick still officially belongs to the Atlanta Hawks until July 6. The team acquired that selection in Tuesday's Kristaps Porzingis trade. Advertisement Related: Kevin Durant Issues Response to Fan's Celtics Post Related: Nets' Cam Thomas Makes Statement on NBA Future This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 26, 2025, where it first appeared.
