Egor Dëmin Shines as Rookie Sharpshooter, Raising Questions About His Potential

The 19-year-old Brooklyn Nets guard has surprised with his elite 3-point shooting, but struggles in other areas raise doubts about his future stardom.

Apr. 11, 2026 at 6:21am

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Egor Dëmin, a 19-year-old rookie for the Brooklyn Nets, has emerged as a surprise sharpshooter in the NBA, sinking 62 three-pointers so far this season and ranking second among all first-year players. However, the 6-foot-9 guard has struggled in other areas of his game, raising questions about whether his shooting prowess is a genuine evolution or just a temporary distraction from his overall development.

Why it matters

Dëmin's journey is captivating because he represents the unpredictable nature of player development in the NBA. While he was expected to excel with his rare combination of size and ball-handling skills, his unexpected shooting prowess has both impressed and puzzled observers. His story highlights the challenges young players face in transitioning to the professional level and the importance of well-rounded growth, not just specialized skills.

The details

At Brigham Young University, Dëmin stood out as a 6-foot-9 guard with exceptional ball-handling abilities. However, as a rookie in the NBA, he has been surprisingly reluctant to drive to the basket, taking the lowest rate of two-point shot attempts on the Nets. In a recent loss to the Golden State Warriors, he didn't take a single shot inside the paint and turned the ball over twice in the crucial fourth quarter. Despite these struggles, Dëmin has emerged as an elite three-point shooter, sinking 62 threes so far this season and ranking second among all NBA rookies. This shooting surge is particularly surprising given that he shot just 27.1% from three-point range in college. Dëmin credits his improved shooting to a forced break due to a plantar fascia injury, which allowed him to focus intensely on his mechanics and rhythm through stationary shooting practice.

  • Dëmin was sidelined by a plantar fascia injury all summer, forcing him to focus on stationary shooting practice.
  • This season, Dëmin has sunk 62 three-pointers, ranking second among all NBA rookies.
  • Dëmin is projected to hit around 170 threes by the end of the season, surpassing the Nets' rookie record held by Kerry Kittles from the 1996–97 season.

The players

Egor Dëmin

A 19-year-old rookie guard for the Brooklyn Nets who stands 6-foot-9 and has surprised with his elite three-point shooting, but has struggled in other areas of his game.

Jordi Fernandez

The head coach of the Brooklyn Nets, who has expressed high expectations for Dëmin and wants to see more paint touches, assists, and physicality from the young player.

Nic Claxton

A veteran player for the Brooklyn Nets who has encouraged Dëmin, saying his recent performance was a 'big confidence builder' and that 'the sky's the limit' for the young player.

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What they’re saying

“He has high expectations for himself and I'm gonna say the same. I want more paint touches. I want more assists. I want more physicality in both ends. He's gonna try to do his best. That's a good thing about our young guys.”

— Jordi Fernandez, Head Coach, Brooklyn Nets

“It was a big confidence builder for him. He hit some really big shots for us. Obviously, there's still a lot of errors where he can learn from. But the sky's the limit for him and he'll keep getting better.”

— Nic Claxton, Player, Brooklyn Nets

“It comes from the summer work for sure. That was one of my biggest focuses. People were questioning my 3-point shot a lot, questioning if I would even shoot them. I'm lucky to have a really good coaching staff around me here that wants me to shoot any time I can.”

— Egor Dëmin

What’s next

The Nets and their coaching staff will continue to work with Dëmin to help him develop a more well-rounded game, focusing on increasing his paint touches, assists, and physicality, while also maintaining his impressive three-point shooting.

The takeaway

Egor Dëmin's rookie season has been a mix of surprises and challenges, highlighting the unpredictable nature of player development in the NBA. His unexpected emergence as an elite three-point shooter has been a bright spot, but his struggles in other areas raise questions about whether his shooting prowess is a genuine evolution or a temporary distraction. As he continues to grow and adapt to the professional level, Dëmin's ability to integrate all his skills will be crucial in determining his long-term potential as a future NBA star.