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The Brooklyn Nets are young, lively, and far removed from the Eastern Conference playoff picture.
Those three factors make the team a perfect spot for developing young players. The first name on that list? Rookie guard Egor Demin.
The eighth overall pick in last year's draft has been solid for Brooklyn through the first stretch of the season, but the next few months could be crucial to his development.
If the Nets handle this young asset correctly, he could be a stellar scorer by the end of the season.
Why Egor Demin will break out after the All-Star break
Egor Demin's stats before the All-Star break:
- 10.8 points per game
- 3.1 rebounds per game
- 3.3 assists per game
- 40.6% FG
- 39.6% 3P FG
The rookie out of BYU has been a solid contributor in his 25 minutes a game. His three-point shooting has been his best strength and he's slowly developing as a passer.
The real reason Demin is set for a breakout is the release of Cam Thomas. The high-usage guard was released by the Nets after the trade deadline. He averaged 12 shots a game in 24 minutes and was an inhibitor to players like Demin who need the reps.
In his absence, Brooklyn will rely on Nolan Traole as the point guard and Demin in an off-ball role to spread the floor. If the rookie can continue to shoot three's at a 40% clip he will ascend as a scorer and elevate his teammates with him.
Egor Dëmin has already solidified how dangerous of a perimeter shotmaker he is
And it was the perimeter shotmaking that forced a hard close out, allowing Dëmin to get into the paint and finish at the rim, showcasing good body control to avoid the defense pic.twitter.com/C0cNjH7Pt3
The only concern is that the Nets have held Demin out of back-to-backs this season. The rookie has struggled with foot injuries.
But if they were going to let their 6-foot-9 sharpshooter loose, now would be the time. With the Nets clearing ball stoppers like Thomas and not competing for a title, they can let their rookie standout run free.
Chances are that Demin still needs more time to grow, but he should see more time after the All-Star break.
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