As Nets first-round decide Egor Dëmin begins his NBA profession, he’s mentored by Andrei Kirilenko, extensively thought-about the best Russian-born participant in NBA historical past.
“Yes, I’ve talked to him through all of my career, if I can call it that,” Dëmin mentioned. “But, moving to Spain, he was a part of the decision at some point. Moving to BYU, especially, obviously, because he lived in Utah, and for my parents, it was important to hear what he thought about the place. When I got picked by Brooklyn, he called me the next day, and we talked a little bit. He gave me some advice, and he just said that he’s happy for me, that he’s really happy that I’m in this organization.”
You bear in mind the legend nicknamed “AK-47,” the primary Russian chosen within the first spherical of the NBA Draft and the impression he made every time he stepped onto the hardwood.
Kirilenko, now 44, averaged 11.8 factors, 5.5 rebounds, 1.4 steals and 1.8 blocks over 13 NBA seasons, starting with the Utah Jazz and concluding with the Nets. His positional versatility and defensive tenacity earned him NBA All-Star honors in 2004 and a number of All-Defensive Group alternatives. He led the league in blocks in 2004–05, and internationally, he concluded his profession as one among Russia’s best skills.
Now Dëmin, who grew up in Moscow, goals to emulate Kirilenko’s legacy and fulfill the potential that made him the highest-drafted Russian participant ever at No. 8 total within the 2025 NBA Draft.
“I’m ready to be whatever they need me to be,” Dëmin mentioned. “Part of my development is learning how to play on the ball, off the ball, setting screens and [coming off] screens, whatever it is, right? I’m just ready to execute whatever they ask me to do.”
Kirilenko possible sees a lot of himself in Dëmin, a fellow 6-9 standout with exceptional positional versatility, although Dëmin profiles as a degree guard at this stage whereas Kirilenko primarily performed small ahead.
Like Kirilenko, Dëmin’s 6-9 body ought to allow him to protect positions 1 by way of 5, swap seamlessly on protection, and contribute in a number of methods for the Nets, from a weak-side defender to a secondary ball-handler. Whereas Dëmin could not attain Kirilenko’s defensive peak, his potential is plain.
Then there’s their distinctive court docket imaginative and prescient. Each stand out as facilitators regardless of their measurement, thriving in high-pace techniques and getting teammates concerned. Kirilenko was a trailblazer of positionless basketball within the early 2000s. Dëmin might symbolize its subsequent evolution.
“Just being able to run coast to coast,” Dëmin mentioned. “And for me, how efficient can I find those defensive rebounds and just find the outlet as fast as I can? Find somebody in front of me who can finish at the rim or find the corners… We can really play 1 through 5, everybody, right? There’s going to be rotations where we just switch everything. Well, it’s not my decision anymore, right? But what I’m trying to say is I believe there’s a lot of options I can bring to this team, and I can do whatever Coach needs me to do.”
Taking part in a number of positions within the NBA calls for a sure construct and talent set versatile sufficient to deal with various challenges. Kirilenko mastered this, whereas Dëmin is simply starting to discover its depths. It requires guarding each perimeter shooters and put up gamers whereas honing abilities like ball-handling, pick-and-roll execution, put up protection and perimeter capturing. Growing the excessive basketball IQ to learn and react throughout positions can take years of movie examine, follow, and sport expertise.
Meaning Dëmin, with just one season at BYU, faces a steeper studying curve than most rookies getting into the league. Balancing fast contributions with long-term development will likely be crucial for the 19-year-old’s success in Brooklyn, demanding an unrelenting work ethic that the Nets consider he embodies.
“Going back to the positional size and his playmaking, obviously, it’s very important that we help each other and we give each other the best shot possible,” Nets head coach Jordi Fernandez mentioned. “And I would believe that he can do it, playing pick-and-roll or simply making the right play. That’s who he is. If you watch him play, and you get to know him, you can see that right away. His ability to shoot the ball, he’s going to shoot the ball very well in this league. That is another thing that excites us, but also his work ethic. We know he’s going to show up. He’s going to work every day. That’s something that caught our eye.”
Initially Revealed: July 7, 2025 at 6:09 PM EDT
