{"id":554185,"date":"2026-01-22T23:12:13","date_gmt":"2026-01-22T23:12:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/554185\/"},"modified":"2026-01-22T23:12:13","modified_gmt":"2026-01-22T23:12:13","slug":"egor-d%d1%91min-emerging-as-key-piece-in-nets-rebuild","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/554185\/","title":{"rendered":"Egor D\u0451min Emerging As Key Piece In Nets’ Rebuild"},"content":{"rendered":"

BROOKLYN, New York \u2013 The Brooklyn Nets are in a full-on rebuild as a franchise, and they may have unearthed a long-term cornerstone in rookie guard Egor D\u0451min<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The former BYU Cougar has excelled nearly halfway through his first NBA season, already validating the premium selection Brooklyn used on him.<\/p>\n

D\u0451min has quickly become one of the league\u2019s most productive first-year shooters.<\/p>\n

RELATED: Egor D\u0451min<\/a>\u00a0Goes To Nets With No. 8 Pick In NBA Draft<\/a><\/p>\n

b2b triples for 3gorrrrrr pic.twitter.com\/oT3S0RqzrA<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Brooklyn Nets (@BrooklynNets) January 22, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

His 90 made threes are second among all rookies.<\/p>\n

Among the 12 rookies who have taken at least 100 threes, his 39.6% accuracy stands out\u2014particularly given that he shot just 27.3% from deep in 33 starts at BYU.<\/p>\n

D\u0451min approaches the All-Star break as one of the best rookies in a stacked class. NBA.com\u2019s Steve Aschburner has the ball-handling Russian native seventh on his 2026 rookie ladder<\/a>.<\/p>\n

D\u00ebmin\u2019s minutes dropped in the two games before Monday, which he sat out for \u201cinjury management\u201d reasons. His 3-point proficiency continues, but coach Jordi Fernandez wants to see the 6-foot-8 Russian consistently play more physically. \u2014 Aschburner<\/p>\n

He is averaging 10.3 points, three rebounds, and 3.4 assists for a Nets team with ample space for rotation players.<\/p>\n

D\u0451min\u2019s combination of size, playmaking ability, and offensive improvement makes him one of Brooklyn\u2019s most intriguing developmental pieces.<\/p>\n

Can Egor D\u0451min be a long-term NBA starter with his improved three-point shooting?<\/p>\n

Before ever playing a game for BYU<\/a>, many wondered how a questionable shooting touch would impact Egor D\u0451min\u2019s ability to carve out an NBA role.<\/p>\n

At 6\u20198 and 200 pounds with athleticism to spare, his measurements made him intriguing to NBA front office staff. Still, a nonexistent perimeter threat is often a death sentence for would-be guards in the league today.<\/p>\n

https:\/\/t.co\/wWGNmWnCY9<\/a>\u2019s updated rookie ladder:<\/p>\n

1. Kon Knueppel
2. Cooper Flagg
3. VJ Edgecombe
4. Derik Queen
5. Cedric Coward
6. Maxime Raynaud
7. Egor D\u00ebmin
8. Caleb Love
9. Jeremiah Fears
10. Dylan Harper pic.twitter.com\/P5czmlCPmX<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) January 21, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

D\u0451min was named to the 2025 Big 12 All-Freshman Team after averaging 10.6 points, 5.5 assists, and 3.9 rebounds at BYU.<\/p>\n

His all\u2011around impact kept him in the lottery conversation, though many were surprised when the Nets selected him eighth\u2014the first of their four first\u2011round picks.<\/p>\n

So far, Brooklyn\u2019s gamble has paid off.<\/p>\n

Considering his age (19) and the growth he\u2019s already shown, there\u2019s no reason to think D\u0451min can\u2019t become a long-term NBA starter.<\/p>\n

Follow Locals in the NBA with KSL Sports<\/p>\n

Are you on Threads yet? Let\u2019s connect; give us a follow\u00a0@kslsports<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Take us with you wherever you go.<\/p>\n

Download the new & improved KSL Sports app from Utah\u2019s sports leader. You can stream live radio and video and stay updated on all your favorite teams.<\/a><\/p>\n

Brian Preece is a KSLsports.com insider covering Locals in MLB and the Salt Lake Bees. Follow Brian\u2019s Bees and Beehive baseball coverage here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Follow @bpreece24<\/a><\/p>\n