Brooklyn Nets guard Egor Demin is heading into his second NBA season after a rookie season that left many around the league curious as to what he could do for an encore. Brooklyn is likely starting Demin at one of the guard spots to pair with forwards Michael Porter Jr. and Julius Randle and there is one prominent voice who is excited to watch Demin this season.
"I don't even know if you're familiar with this player. Egor Demin plays for the Brooklyn Nets. He is a six-foot-eight guard who can shoot. He can pass, he can dunk, the pride of Moscow," ESPN's Peter Schrager said of Demin during his "Big Day" show. Schrager, who is one of the NFL analysts for ESPN, listed five NBA players that he is looking forward to watching as a "League Pass junkie" and Demin was one of those players.
"Yes, this Russian is all over the court for the Nets, and he had seven threes against the Warriors in a game last season," Schrager continued. "I was like 'he's going to break out, It's his time' and then he hurt his foot and he missed the rest of the season. He's going to be healthy for the start, and I am telling you, a six-foot-eight guard on a Nets team that I think might be sneaky this season, feisty, feisty Nets out of Brooklyn."
Demin, 20, is coming off a 2025-26 season in which he averaged 10.3 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 3.3 assists per game while shooting 39.9% from the field and 38.5% from behind the three-point line. During Brooklyn's four-game preseason slate this year, Demin averaged 10.0 points, 1.2 rebounds, and 4.0 assists per game while shooting 36.8% from the floor and 38.9% from deep.
When it comes to the projected offensive pecking order, Demin is likely after Porter and Randle given that those two veterans have earned the right to be driving forces of the offense under head coach Jordi Fernandez. However, Demin has plenty of growth since last season when his season ended prematurely due to plantar fasciitis in his left foot and if Schrager instincts are correct, the Russian will have plenty to show during the 2026-27 campaign.
I'm an NBA LEAGUE PASS junkie. Everyone has their guys. Here are the 5 players I can't wait to watch this NBA season.
— Peter Schrager (@PSchrags) October 14, 2026
Egor Demin Nation, stand up. @BigDayESPN@ESPNNBApic.twitter.com/t2puKUoU0V
This article originally appeared on Nets Wire: Nets' Egor Demin deemed NBA player to watch by ESPN's Peter Schrager