Egor Demin's NBA Contract Projections With Brooklyn Nets

For the first time in 14 years, BYU had a player hear their name called in the NBA Draft. 

Egor Demin, the versatile 6-foot-8 guard who impressed during his lone season in Provo, was selected No. 8 overall by the Brooklyn Nets on Wednesday night. It made him the highest-drafted Cougar since Rafael Araujo went No. 8 back in 2004 to the Toronto Raptors.

In BYU History, there have been no top overall picks. Shawn Bradley went to the Philadelphia 76ers with the second overall pick in 1993. However, the big man's record might be broken with AJ Dybantsa projected as the No. 1 pick in the 2026 NBA Draft. 

While some national outlets called the pick a surprise, anyone who has followed Demin closely knows his upside. He has NBA vision and a long-term potential that’s hard to find for a player with raw attributes. 

What makes Demin so intriguing to NBA scouts, and why Brooklyn jumped at the chance to take him in the top 10, is his combination of size and feel for the game. He’s already drawing comparisons to tall playmakers like Shaun Livingston and even a young Josh Giddey. Demin sees the floor like a veteran point guard and can pass with either hand out of pick-and-rolls, often making plays in Provo that had NBA written all over them. He’s a true basketball mind. 

As the No. 8 pick, Demin is projected to have a 4-year, $31.3 million contract, which is $7.8 million per year, according to Sportrac. Demin enters a Nets backcourt that’s crowded, but might be a blessing in disguise. There is no need to be “the guy” right away and can focus on development. 

Demin’s journey to the NBA started in Russia with a few transfers along the way. He came to Provo by way of Spain's Real Madrid and blossomed under Kevin Young's system at BYU. Yes, he’s a work in progress. But so are most 19-year-old lottery picks.

The Nets are showing they're invested in the long-term upside of a gifted playmaker. Demin might just become the first great NBA success story under Young.