Feb. 16, 2026, 5:09 p.m. ET
The Brooklyn Nets made a decision that many around the NBA were skeptical of when they selected BYU guard Egor Demin with the eighth overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft. Brooklyn chose Demin somewhat within the range of where he was expected to go in the Draft, but it seems that at this point in the season, some pundits are giving the Nets credit for the move.
“If you’re wondering, then, yes, it is a bit unnerving to make this pick with both Johnson and Fears still on the board,” Zach Buckley wrote for Bleacher Report for the outlet’s 2025 redraft article. Ironically enough, Brooklyn still takes Demin with the eighth overall pick according to B/R’s staff, but it seems that there is some significant shifts in where some of the guards within the top-10 fall based on their performances this year.
“But the Nets clearly prioritized playmakers—they essentially spent four first-round picks on the archetype—and Dёmin checks that box better than the other two,” Buckley continued. “He’s also, apparently, an absolute net-shredder. One year removed from converting just 27.3 percent of his long-range looks at BYU, Dёmin is suddenly splashing to the tune of a 39.5 percent conversion clip from the NBA arch.”
Demin, 19, is having a solid rookie season for the Nets as he’s averaging 10.8 points, 3.1 rebounds, and 3.3 assists per game while shooting 40.6% from the field and 39.6% from three-point land. Demin had a slow start to this campaign as he was adjusting to the NBA game, but since December, he’s averaging 12.1 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 3.2 assists per game while shooting 41.9% from the floor and 41.9% from deep.
When it comes to this redraft, and how it relates to Demin still being taken by the Nets, it’s important to note that the main changes are that Washington Wizards guard Tre Johnson and New Orleans Pelicans guard Jeremiah Fears are selected later than they were in the actual draft. Part of that is due to how well forward Kon Knueppel has played for the Charlotte Hornets and what a revelation forward Cedric Coward has been for the Memphis Grizzlies.
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Ultimately, Demin has played better than expected due to how well he is shooting the three-pointer (he shot 27.3% from behind the three-point line while at BYU). Demin hasn’t shown as much of the passing ability that many scouts raved about, but that could be for the best as guard Nolan Traore appears to be the point guard of the future for the Nets since Demin has assumed the off-guard role.