Following a dominant 23-point performance, the second-year guard Egor Demin is shedding his rookie label to anchor Brooklyn’s young core through vocal leadership and aggressive, refined offensive playmaking.
Egor Demin entered Summer League with something to prove, and the Brooklyn Nets guard looked fully ready to embrace that responsibility on Saturday.
Despite Brooklyn’s 79-76 loss to the Sacramento Kings in its California Classic opener, Demin delivered one of the strongest performances of the day. He finished with 23 points and seven rebounds while helping the Nets control large portions of the game.
Demin Makes Honest Admission After Nets Loss
After the game, the second-year guard made it clear that he’s focusing beyond simply putting up numbers.
“I don’t want to say pressure of being a leader, but kind of embracing the role of a guy who’s been a year in the NBA already,” he said after the game. “I want to take that role on myself coming here and lead the team mentally on the bench and on the court as well.”
That mindset showed throughout the afternoon.
With Mikel Brown Jr. and Danny Wolf both unavailable, Brooklyn leaned heavily on Demin offensively, and he responded by consistently creating shots, attacking downhill and delivering timely baskets whenever Sacramento threatened to seize momentum.
The former BYU standout looked far more comfortable operating as one of Brooklyn’s primary initiators compared to last season, when injuries limited him to just 52 games during his rookie campaign.
Nets Couldn't Contain 18-Point Lead vs. Kings
Demin’s growth as a shooter also continued to stand out. After connecting on 38.5% of his three-point attempts during the regular season, he confidently stepped into perimeter shots while also showing improved patience when attacking the basket.
Brooklyn initially looked dominant behind Demin’s aggression, building an 18-point lead while frustrating Kings rookie Darius Acuff Jr. defensively. Although Sacramento eventually stormed back behind Acuff and Nique Clifford, Demin repeatedly answered with momentum-changing baskets, including a huge fourth-quarter stretch that briefly restored Brooklyn’s control.
The Nets ultimately collapsed late due largely to turnovers, committing 20 compared to Sacramento’s nine. Still, Demin’s performance was easily Brooklyn’s biggest positive from the opener.
For a player who surprised some around the league when Brooklyn selected him eighth overall in the 2025 NBA Draft, Saturday looked like another step toward validating the organization’s belief in him.
Now entering his second NBA season, Demin is no longer simply trying to establish himself. He is beginning to take ownership of Brooklyn’s young core.
Join our ROUNDTABLE community! It's free to join. Share your thoughts, engage with our Roundtable writers, and chat with fellow members.
Download the free Roundtable APP, (https://apps.apple.com/us/app/roundtable-rtb/id6450423049) and stay even more connected!
