The Brooklyn Nets got five rookies heading into the 2025-26 season, all of them taken in the first round. They are not expected to crack the playoffs, not even the play-in. This season will be all for development of the players. Who’s showing signs of commitment? Jordi Fernandez is impressed with two of his rookies.
He previously praised 26th overall pick Ben Saraf for his composure. He has the same thoughts about their eighth overall pick and 6’8 point guard Egor Demin.
“He was excellent,” Jordi Fernandez said as quoted by New York Post’s Brian Lewis.
“There’s going to be things he’s going to keep working on. We’ve got to keep building him up physically to be able to sustain more minutes. … But I’m very happy with his presence, how composed he was, how he talked to his teammates, all those things. And made it look easy.”
Fernandez was referring to the 19-year-old Russian’s game in loss against the Toronto Raptors where he scored 14 points in 19 minutes.
Demin maybe a rookie but he already has a pro sports experience, having played for Real Madrid in 2023 before transferring to BYU Cougars in NCAA.
Brooklyn Nets has to be careful with Egor Demin
Demin played one game in the pre-season and it has to do with the injury he suffered a plantar fascia tear before the training camp. He missed both their games against the Phoenix Suns in China.
He admits he is not yet 100 percent but feels confident that he is not going to need a surgery.
“For sure. Probably. It’s going to take some time probably to really get rid of everything,” he said.
“But as long as it’s not [dangerous], as long as it’s safe for me to play, I’m good to go.”
Demin is expected to be a starter for a rebuilding Nets. Expected join him in the starting line up are Cam Thomas (shooting guard), Terrence Mann, one-time champ and summer acquisition Michael Porter Jr., and Nic Claxton.
There was a clear top 10 in Jordi Fernandez’s rotation during preseason finale:
Demin/Saraf
Thomas/Martin
Mann/Williams
Porter/Clowney
Claxton/SharpeThat’s more or less what I’ve been expecting for rotation. Top question was spot behind CT, but Martin has earned those mins.
— Erik Slater (@erikslater_) October 18, 2025
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