After wearing No. 3 as a freshman in college, rookie guard Egor Dёmin will begin his career in the NBA with the Brooklyn Nets with a new look on the court.

Before becoming the first five-star recruit to commit to BYU, Dёmin donned No. 9 with Real Madrid and No. 3 with Russia in the 2021 FIBA U16 European Challengers. With both numbers open on the Nets, Dёmin opted to go with No. 8.

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The 19-year-old hasn’t had the opportunity to wear it throughout his basketball journey up until this point, despite it being one of his favorite numbers. In a video posted by the Nets on X, Dёmin appears to be excited to finally be able to wear it.

My draft pick, I would say, is the biggest part of it. I also just really like No. 8; I always liked it. I never really had the chance to take it because I was always playing for No. 3, and it is my number all of the time. Then I played for nine because I couldn’t get three, so I took three times three is nine. Then I got back to three in college. I just also think it is pretty good, and then it is infinity.

Dёmin was named to the Big 12 All-Freshman Team last season, averaging 10.6 points, 5.5 assists, 3.9 rebounds and 1.2 steals on 41.2% shooting from the field. He dazzled as a playmaker, ranking third in the conference in assists after setting the freshman program record (180).

The 6-foot-9 Russian debuted in the NBA Summer League, averaging 11.3 points, 4.3 rebounds, 1.3 assists and one steal on 43.5% shooting from 3-point range in three appearances. He finished in double figures twice, including a 14-point, five-rebound performance on July 16.

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Dёmin is among a crowded draft class for the Nets, joining Nolan Traoré (19th pick), Drake Powell (22nd pick), Ben Saraf (26th pick) and Danny Wolf (27th pick). The Nets became the first team in history to select five players in the first round of the draft.

Note: Throughout August, Rookie Wire is looking at every first-round pick and why each player selected their respective jersey number as they make the jump to the NBA.

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This article originally appeared on Rookie Wire: Nets news: Egor Dёmin pointed to the draft for jersey inspiration