Brooklyn Nets Take Egor Demin With 8th Overall Pick in 2025 NBA Draft

The Brooklyn Nets selected Egor Demin with the eighth pick in the 2025 NBA Draft on Wednesday night. 

Demin, a 6-foot-9 guard out of BYU, averaged 10.6 points, 5.5 assists, and earned All-Big 12 Freshman Team honors. 

For Demin, the dream of playing in the NBA once felt out of reach. As detailed by Athlon Sports' Kyle Wood, growing up in Moscow, the idea of making it to the world’s premier basketball league seemed distant. But years of sacrifice, hard work, and a global journey have brought him to the doorstep. 

As his NBA Draft dream comes true, Demin became the highest-drafted BYU player since Rafael Araujo went 8th in 2004. He's also the only current NBA player from Russia.

Demin’s path has been anything but conventional. After showcasing his early talent at the Moscow Basketball Academy, he took a bold leap at 15, moving to Spain to join Real Madrid’s cadet team despite not knowing Spanish or English. He likened the experience to being thrown into water before learning to swim but said he dove in willingly.

Rather than pursue a professional career in Europe, Demin opted to develop his game at BYU, where he played under new head coach Kevin Young. He quickly made an impact in the Big 12. Demin's impressive March Madness showing further boosted his draft stock.

Demin’s focus now is on refining his shooting and adaptability in pick-and-roll situations, areas he’s prioritized during pre-draft training. He studies top NBA players like newly crowned NBA Finals MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Luka Doncic, seeking to emulate their style. 

While many prospects are consumed with draft position, Demin is more concerned with finding the right fit. He values learning, development, and being coached traits that have carried him this far.

With the unwavering support of his family, Demin views his impending NBA opportunity as a way to validate all the sacrifices they’ve made together.

“Everything we went through,” he told Wood, “I want them to know it was worth it.”

The Nets can benefit from Demin's talent. He's still a bit raw but has taken strides in his development. He worked out for a majority of teams in the top 20 of the draft order with Brooklyn making it official as a sleeper pick.