Brooklyn’s future and present both earned recognition from Bleacher Report, with Egor Dëmin and Michael Porter Jr. named contenders among the NBA’s best players at their respective ages.
The Brooklyn Nets have two players recognized by Bleacher Report as contenders to be the best players in the NBA at their respective ages.
In Bleacher Report’s recent rankings of the best NBA player at every age from 19 through 41, Nets guard Egor Dëmin was listed among the contenders for the league’s best 20-year-old, while Nets forward Michael Porter Jr. was included among the contenders for the best 28-year-old.
Dëmin did not take the top spot at 20, with San Antonio Spurs guard Dylan Harper earning that distinction. Still, seeing the Nets rookie included alongside Harper and Bulls rookie forward Caleb Wilson is notable as he heads into his second NBA season.
Dëmin, who was selected No. 8 overall by Brooklyn in the 2025 NBA Draft, showed plenty of promise during his rookie campaign. He averaged 10.3 points and 3.3 assists per game while getting his first taste of NBA basketball, giving the Nets a glimpse of the potential that made him a lottery pick.
His development continued into the offseason, particularly during Summer League. Dëmin was one of Brooklyn’s most impressive players throughout the summer and was eventually named to the 2026 NBA All-Summer League Second Team.
There is still plenty of room for Dëmin to grow, but Bleacher Report’s recognition shows just how much potential he has entering Year 2. At only 20 years old, he has plenty of time to develop, and a strong sophomore season could put him in an even better position among the league’s young players.
Porter’s inclusion comes at a much different point in his career.
The 28-year-old was listed as a contender for the best player at his age, with Oklahoma City Thunder star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander taking the top spot. Jayson Tatum and Austin Reaves were also listed as contenders alongside Porter.
Porter joined the Nets last offseason in a major move that brought another proven scorer and shooter to Brooklyn. The former Denver Nugget has established himself as one of the NBA’s premier perimeter shooting threats, while his 6-foot-10 frame gives the Nets another way to create mismatches offensively.
Being mentioned alongside players such as Tatum and Reaves is notable, even though Porter was not ultimately selected as the best 28-year-old.
For Brooklyn, Dëmin and Porter represent two very different pieces of the roster. Dëmin is one of the organization's young players who could develop into a major part of its future, while Porter enters the season with years of NBA experience and the expectation that he can make an immediate impact.
The two players are also at completely different stages of their careers. Dëmin is preparing for just his second NBA season and still has plenty to learn at the professional level. Porter, meanwhile, has already played a major role on a championship team and is now entering his prime years with the Nets.
Neither player was ultimately named the best at his age, but having two Nets players appear among the contenders is still noteworthy.
Dëmin will look to take another step forward in his second season, while Porter will try to show that he remains one of the league’s more impactful players as he enters his late 20s.
