The "Egor Demin can't shoot" camp has been awfully quiet since the beginning of the summer league. And who can blame them? After knocking through less than 30% of his triples as a freshman, the Russian beanpole who at times resembles Gumby more than the prototypical DiVinci human model dropped the collective jaws of scouts and executives at the combine as something of an appetizer before consistently hitting at a clip at or above 40% in-game.
Who could have foreseen such a turn of events?
His Summer League performances built to a crescendo in his most recent appearance, as spectators held their breath in a back-and-forth battle to the finish. Egor had only converted one 3-ball on the night, and the Magic were knocking on the door of the W. Hopped the fence, dodged a Rottweiler in the neighbor's backyard, shimmied across the property boundaries, narrowly avoided a stray sprinkler, all to reach the doorstep -- within one point of the Brooklyn lead.
Now, some individuals are passionate about home security. Maybe they'll install a state-of-the-art security system. Maybe they'll stow a baseball bat (wooden or metal, this is your home and you can defend it how you please). Demin ignites a flamethrower; get out and stay out.
With the final two and a half draining from the game clock, Egor spotted up from the right wing. An ocean of space. He drifts to the corner. A storm approaches, so does the ball. He catches. Balance. Eyes. Elbow. Follow through. Beef is on the menu.
An Orlando whiff. The subsequent Brooklyn board shifts straight from first gear to 6th -- forget the transmission, we've got a game to win -- and possession pendulums to Demin on the left wing. One dribble enacts the braking system. In rhythm, he's elevating. Again, it's butter. Beautiful. The shooting sleeve wrapped around his left arm is saturated, collecting the souls of his adversaries.
But he's not finished. The game clock nearly empty, his man gets lost in the sauce as the rock swings to the painted pond. The splash catches his eye for just a moment. Egor relocates to the right corner. Same spot. Same result.
Egor Demin knocked down 3 3-pointers in the FINAL 2 minutes to win the game for the Brooklyn Nets. pic.twitter.com/bVBwe1LjWa
— Brooklyn Netcast (@BrooklynNetcast) July 17, 2025
The final buzzer sounds, Brooklyn stands victorious. The entire arena stands and applauds in unison. A chant breaks out from behind the basket, first a mumble, until more voices join the choir. "Egor! Egor! Egor!" Confetti pops. His mom, tears of joy streaming down her cheeks, pridefully beams from the sidelines. Adam Silver delivers the NBA MVP award personally and on the spot.
Okay, maybe most of that last bit didn't happen, but that's what's been going on inside my head as I was beginning to feel like the only person with an apartment on Demin Boulevard. Well, I'm not moving. This is my home. Egor is an NBA talent. Basketball rules.