Plantar fasciitis sidelines Brooklyn Nets' promising rookie Egor Demin for the season, cutting short a breakout year marked by record-breaking 3-point shooting.
The Brooklyn Nets' difficult season continued Monday as Egor Demin was shut down for the season due to worsening plantar fasciitis in his left foot.
Demin's solid rookie season comes to a close, with the point guard posting averages of 10.3 points, 3.2 rebounds and 3.3 assists per game, while starting in 45 of the 52 games he appeared in.
Demin, 20, has been out since late February, but suffered recent setbacks and increased soreness in the past few weeks, according to coach Jordi Fernandez.
Fernandez addressed Demin's progress after the Nets' 126-110 loss against the Miami Heat on Thursday, telling reporters there was no timetable for Demin's return.
"He’s struggled with his plantar fasciitis. The soreness has increased lately," Fernandez said. "We’re being cautious and trying to figure out what is the best way for him moving forward."
Demin was the first of Brooklyn's five first-round selections in the 2025 draft, taken eighth overall out of BYU. In Demin's lone season with the Cougars, he averaged 10.6 points, 5.5 assists, 3.9 rebounds, and 1.2 steals per game, leading to an All-Big 12 honorable-mention selection.
His 5.5 assists per game and 180 total assists on the season were program-best marks for a freshman. Demin also became the second player in Big 12 history to record 10 or more points and 10 or more assists in his debut, joining Oklahoma's Trae Young.
Demin's playmaking ability had many calling him the best passer in the draft. When asked about these claims, Demin said, "I believe in basketball as a creative place. It’s like art for me. I want to play beautiful, I want to play pretty, I wanna play efficient.
"It’s about making the right decision, which I’m always trying to do."
But perhaps Demin's most noticeable growth has been in his 3-point shooting ability, as he shot just 27.3-percent from beyond the arc in college. However, with the Nets, he has shown a high-level of consistency from deep, shooting over 38-percent.
Demin's 38.5-percent clip is the highest 3-point field goal percentage by a qualified rookie in Nets history. His highest 3-point output came back in late December against the Golden State Warriors, exploding for seven makes from distance, also a Nets rookie record.
Shutting Demin down for the season is disappointing for a Nets team that's trying to learn what their five first round picks are capable of, but Demin has solidified himself as a big piece of Brooklyn's future.
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