Elder Rasband Meets with NBA Rookie and Former BYU Player Egor Dëmin

The meeting highlights the growing intersection between professional sports and personal faith.

Published on Feb. 8, 2026

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Brooklyn Nets rookie Egor Dëmin, a former BYU basketball player, recently met with Elder Ronald A. Rasband of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints during Dëmin's trip to Salt Lake City. The meeting, facilitated by BYU's senior associate athletic director Travis Hansen, took place at the Church Administration Building and focused on the role of faith in Dëmin's life and career.

Why it matters

The meeting between Elder Rasband and Dëmin underscores the increasing openness among professional athletes to explore and share their personal faith journeys. This trend reflects a growing recognition of the importance of spirituality in providing grounding, purpose, and resilience for athletes navigating the demands of their careers.

The details

During the meeting, Elder Rasband read from Isaiah 2:2, highlighting the global reach of both the Church and the world of professional sports. Hansen, who has mentored Dëmin, described the encounter as "bigger than basketball," emphasizing the values Dëmin represents. Dëmin's openness to connecting with faith leaders is part of a broader shift, as more athletes publicly acknowledge and explore their spirituality.

  • The meeting between Elder Rasband and Egor Dëmin took place on January 30, 2026.
  • Dëmin set a rookie record for consecutive games with a 3-pointer during his recent game against the Utah Jazz.

The players

Elder Ronald A. Rasband

A member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Egor Dëmin

A rookie player for the Brooklyn Nets who previously played basketball at Brigham Young University (BYU).

Travis Hansen

The senior associate athletic director at BYU and a former BYU and NBA player who has mentored Egor Dëmin.

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What they’re saying

“And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the Lord's house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it.”

— Elder Ronald A. Rasband, Apostle, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Church News)

“This meeting was bigger than basketball. It's about the values Egor represents.”

— Travis Hansen, Senior Associate Athletic Director, BYU (Church News)

What’s next

The meeting between Elder Rasband and Egor Dëmin highlights the growing trend of professional athletes openly exploring and sharing their personal faith journeys. As this intersection of sports and spirituality continues to evolve, it will be interesting to see how it shapes the experiences and perspectives of athletes, as well as the broader sports community.

The takeaway

The meeting between Elder Rasband and Egor Dëmin underscores the important role that faith can play in the lives of professional athletes, providing them with a sense of purpose, resilience, and community. This trend reflects a growing recognition of the value of holistic athlete development, where character and values are just as important as physical skills and performance.