Egor Demin became the first of the Kevin Young pupils to go from BYU to the NBA. The Brooklyn Nets selected the 6-foot-8 Russian eighth overall in last summer’s NBA Draft. Many wondered how his skills would translate to the NBA after something of a hot-and-cold season at BYU, but finished strong in the NCAA […]
Egor Demin became the first of the Kevin Young pupils to go from BYU to the NBA. The Brooklyn Nets selected the 6-foot-8 Russian eighth overall in last summer’s NBA Draft. Many wondered how his skills would translate to the NBA after something of a hot-and-cold season at BYU, but finished strong in the NCAA Tournament.
Well, wonder no longer. Demin is officially playing like he was worthy of being a lottery pick and could be a foundational building block for the Nets moving forward.
As one might expect, it took him some time to settle into his role in the NBA. He averaged less than 25 minutes per game in his first 17 games, through the end of November.
Ever since December began, something has clicked for the Russian rookie. He went from averaging roughly 8.2 points per game through November to now frequently reaching double-digit points on a nightly basis.
After having just five games of a dozen points or more through November, he has had eight such games of 12+ points in 14 games.
Since December 23, Demin has scored at least 20 points twice in a game. He dropped 23 points on the Warriors on December 29.
Now in January, it’s looking like he’s hit a whole new level. He has 41 points in three games this month so far, including a whale of a game against the Orlando Magic that went to overtime. In fact, it was historic.
He won’t likely win Rookie of the Year, so long as No. 1 overall pick Cooper Flagg stays healthy. However, that doesn’t mean Demin hasn’t been one of the most productive rookies in the NBA.
Only Charlotte’s Kon Knueppel has more three-pointers made among rookies than Demin. Among rookies, he’s seventh in assists and steals, and eighth in total points scored.
He is playing more and more, logging his three highest minutes in a game all season since December 23.
All this, after Kevin Young’s statement when he came to BYU saying ““I want to make this place, the best place in college basketball to prepare young men to play in the NBA.”
Now, his words are producing fruit. Demin was taken eighth overall and is playing every bit like a top-10 pick should in the NBA.
And it feels like Demin is just the beginning for Young’s run with BYU.
Category: General Sports
