Egor Demin will be selected in the 2025 NBA Draft. That much is undeniable after a freshman season with BYU basketball that -- while a touch uneven -- spotlighted his NBA abilities in a way that could have certain teams salivating over his potential at the next level.
But here's the sticking point: Egor's potential at the next level could meet a severe fork in the road, and that may scare most teams selecting in the lottery.
If he can tighten his handle and lock in as a reliable pressure-release shooter from beyond the arc, stardom may be in his future as a playmaking virtuoso capable of opening the floor and elevating his teammates' collective output while enforcing constant pressure on the helpless defenders at his mercy.
On the flip side of that coin, unfortunately, Demin's weaknesses were at times glaring under the lights of high-level college basketball. He didn't always handle double-teams or blitzes with much grace, and his cold shooting, weak frame, and sloppy turnovers at times took the Russian off the floor and out of the game. As the NBA promises stronger defenders and tougher athletes at all times, how will Egor hold up as the pressure begins to be laser-focued on him when he touches the floor?
This drastic dichotomy opens more questions about his role than answers, and if I were an NBA franchise, I'd think twice about such an uncertain prospect before spending my first-round pick on him. Even if he adjusts well to the NBA game out of the gate, would Egor be better suited as a lead ballhandler and offensive floor general, or an off-ball playmaker a la Josh Giddey?
On the other hand, Demin's potential as a lead playmaker shows a vision of basketball capability unlike anything we've seen up to this point. Singularities in basketball memory like Magic Johnson, Luka Doncic, and other jumbo playmakers may be enough for franchises in the top 10 to take a swing at Egor, especially as his weaknesses were muted during combine workouts.
The way I see it, Demin's weaknesses won't be cured with one simple workout, or only one year as a pro. His drafting franchise will need to excercise patience and deliberately bring him along to unlock his full potential as a pro.
Mishandle Egor, and his NBA career may be over prematurely, and that would be a tremendous disservice to both him and his selector.