Egor Demin continues to lead Nets’ youth movement as Jordi Fernandez walks pivotal tightrope
Egor Dëmin was largely the first brick in Brooklyn’s rebuild.
In June, he became the Nets’ first lottery pick in 15 years. And now he’ll be the first Net in the Rising Stars Competition at All-Star Weekend since 2019.
“I can’t tell I was really thinking about it so much. Obviously a lot of games, and we’ve got to focus on that first. Obviously it’s also a goal for anybody I’m pretty sure to just to get to All-Star weekend, in any part of it,” said Dëmin who scored 15 points and grabbed five rebounds in Tuesday night’s loss. “It’s an honor. So for me, just being announced to be a part of it, it means a lot.”
Egor Dëmin looks to make a play as Payton Pritchard defends during the Nets’ overtime loss to the Celtics. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
The announcement came on Monday, with the players drafted into squads on Tuesday night while the Nets were busy losing a 106-102 nail-biter to Phoenix.
It was both an honor for the teenaged Russian, and a key early step in Brooklyn’s rebuild. Dëmin — one of a NBA-record five first-round draft picks by Brooklyn in June — is the first Net in the Rising Challenge since Rodions Kurucs made the rookie team and Jarrett Allen the sophomore squad seven years ago.
He’s Brooklyn’s first representative at All-Star weekend since Kevin Durant in 2022.
Dëmin — picked No. 8 overall — joins Kon Knueppel and VJ Edgecombe as the only rookies averaging at least 10 points, three assists, three rebounds and multiple 3-pointers a game.
Considering questions about his shooting coming into the draft, the fact that he tied a rookie record at 33 straight games with a 3-pointer is noteworthy growth.
“I think obviously shooting, probably,” said Dëmin, second in this rookie class in both total 3-pointers made and 3-pointers per game. “Obviously coming from the last season with 25 percent from the 3 in college to whatever I have right now is feeling very, very confident in that aspect of the game. That makes me happy.
Head coach Jordi Fernández talks with Egor Dëmin during the Nets’ overtime loss to the Celtics on Jan. 23, 2026. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
“A lot of work has been going [into] my defense, and I think I’m making strides there, and I’m getting better for sure. Obviously it might take some more time for me to be stable with that, and more consistent, and that’s kind of a goal. But I think I’m better than at the start of the season, which is the most important.”
Dëmin will also have to work on his inability to get downhill and touch the paint, which has kept him from fully unlocking his full passing potential. It’s a ballhandling Achilles’ heel that leaves the Nets in need of on-ball creation.
Coming into Tuesday’s game against the Suns, Dëmin was averaging 10.2 points, 3.4 assists and 3.3 rebounds on 40/40/85 shooting splits.
He found out he had made the Feb. 13 Rising Stars competition at Intuit Dome when he heard a Nets assistant video coordinator make an announcement on the team flight to Phoenix.
Nets rookie Nolan Traore has shown signs that he can be effective driving to the basket. NBAE via Getty Images
“I was reading my book on the plane and listening to music; and then I saw some cameras in front of me and was confused what was going on,” Dëmin said. “Some of the coaching staff members were announcing something, and I was a little confused too, because I didn’t listen to half of it. So when I took my headphones off, I just heard they said that I made it to the Rising Stars game.”
It’s an honor that Dëmin’s father — who played professionally in Russia — will be on hand to watch in Los Angeles.
The draft for the Rising Stars was held Tuesday, with honorary coaches Vince Carter, Carmelo Anthony and Tracy McGrady picking seven-player teams and Dëmin fittingly getting picked by the Nets Hall of Famer.
