​LAS VEGAS — Egor Demin, a guard for the Brooklyn Nets, turned heads with a promising rookie season in 2025-26, signaling that his shooting could rise to an elite level. The 20-year-old demonstrated a three-point ability that surpassed his freshman year at BYU, suggesting he could develop into one of the league’s more dangerous shooters. Yet Demin acknowledged that there are other facets of his game that demand refinement, notably his prowess at driving to the rim and finishing through contact.
In the aftermath of Brooklyn’s 91-65 win over the New York Knicks in the Las Vegas Summer League, Demin spoke with reporters about the offseason priorities. “That was the emphasis of the offseason, I would say,” he explained. “I’ve been telling people before, I believe that as long as I get stronger in the lifting room, that’s going to help me execute certain things on the court.” The Nets’ guard logged 20 points and three rebounds in that game, and while he shot 7-of-15 from the floor, he went 3-of-9 from beyond the arc, underscoring both his continued confidence as a shooter and the work he needs to do at the rim.
“Especially because I’m working on that stuff day to day. What I’m thinking about is how I can develop habits that get me to the paint as often as possible,” Demin said. He added that his increasing strength has given him more confidence, and that consistent effort is translating into tangible progress on the court. “Trying is the next step, right? So, as much as I try, I think it gets better and better. I’m very excited with all the work I’ve done for that, and it’s going to keep growing for sure.”
Demin arrived in the summer league after a strong showing in California Classic play, where he averaged 23.0 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 3.0 assists per game while shooting 55.6 percent from the field and 26.7 percent from three-point range across two games. Those numbers illustrated a player with real shooting upside, but they also highlighted a need to diversify his attack. During his rookie season last year, Demin took roughly 72 percent of his shots from beyond the arc, yet he acknowledged the importance of becoming more of a threat near the basket and finishing at the rim.
More telling was his shooting from inside the arc. Demin connected on just 55.1 percent of his attempts at the rim (zone one to three feet from the basket), ranking 513th out of 569 players in that metric last season. The discrepancy between his high-volume perimeter shooting and his more limited efficiency in close-range finishes is a gap Demin appears keen to close. He attributes the anticipated improvement to a combination of increased physical strength and dedicated work on the floor.
If Demin can translate this summer league momentum into more consistent rim penetration and finishes in game action, Brooklyn could be looking at a well-rounded guard who can threaten defenses in multiple ways. His progress in the weight room seems to be fueling his on-court development, and the Nets will be watching closely to see whether the improvements stick as the team shifts through its offseason program and into the regular season.
As Demin continues to balance his development between long-range shooting and aggressive forays to the basket, the early returns suggest a player who understands the path to becoming a top-tier shooter and a dynamic, two-way contributor. The work he has put in this offseason—combining strength training with targeted on-court drills—already appears to be shaping a narrative of growth that Nets fans can monitor with interest as Brooklyn moves forward in the summer league and beyond. This report originates from Nets Wire, chronicling Demin’s improved driving ability in the summer league as part of a broader push toward more complete offensive versatility.