With the NBA season quickly coming to a close, the upcoming NBA Draft is on everyone’s mind. Duke’s Cooper Flagg is the obvious No. 1 prospect and is expected to be selected by the Dallas Mavericks with the top pick. Most believe Rutgers guard Dylan Harper will go second overall to the San Antonio Spurs, but after that, things could go in many different directions.
One player rising up draft boards is BYU’s Egor Demin.
Demin, a native of Moscow, Russia, is well known for his vision and passing, which make him an intriguing prospect thanks to his size at 6-foot-9. His rise and combination of point guard skills with size has drawn comparisons to one of the NBA’s best players, Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Dončić.
Egor Demin Doesn’t Compare Himself to Luka Dončić
There are some clear similarities beyond their skill, with both being foreign-born players who played for Real Madrid.
According to Jake Fischer of The Stein Line, Demin is Real Madrid’s best prospect since Dončić.
“We’ve heard consistent buzz that he is drawing particular interest from Brooklyn,” Fischer reports. “Many front offices appear intrigued by the talent that complements Demin’s lengthy frame. It is no stretch to say that he is the highest-rated NBA Draft prospect with Real Madrid in his background since a certain Luka Dončić.”
However, Demin doesn’t compare himself to Dončić and wouldn’t compare anyone else to the five-time All-Star either.
“It’s hard because Luka is Luka … and everyone else is their own,” Demin told The Stein Line. “There is nobody like Luka and Luka is like nobody else.”
Even though Demin is clearly confident, distancing himself from comparisons to a player of Dončić’s stature is probably a smart move, at least for now.
Egor Demin Considered a “Thinker”
That doesn’t mean Demin isn’t expected to make a big impact in the league. But there are still some question marks. He has struggled from beyond the arc, shooting just 27.3% from three-point range. In a league that relies heavily on outside shooting, that could hurt his stock. However, his former coach at BYU, Kevin Young, who refers to Demin as a “thinker,” doesn’t seem worried.
“The kid,” Young said, “is going to be able to shoot the ball.”
Demin certainly backs up the label of “thinker” when describing his game.
“Me being a risk-taker, it applies to me not being scared to do a beautiful pass or something like this,” Demin said. “You don’t predetermine a pass. But at the same time, really having this feel of seeing what can happen. I’m really trying to analyze and see the game a step ahead of you.”
Demin, once projected to go just outside the lottery, is now considered a top-10 pick by several analysts. Per Fischer, he has drawn strong interest from the Brooklyn Nets, who hold the eighth overall pick. He averaged 10.6 points, 5.5 assists and 3.9 rebounds per game for the Cougars last season.
