For those of you who have been following BYU product Egor Demin's introductory moments as an NBA basketball player, some developments may have left you surprised.
When Demin's name was called in the top 10 by the Brooklyn Nets? Spit take. Water everywhere. Had to buy a new laptop.
When his jersey number changed from the 3 that we've grown accustomed to? Shock and awe. 8, the number of his selection in the NBA, was a beautiful choice, and one that makes for (if you don't mind me saying) one sexy basketball jersey.
But on the back of that uniform, as one inevitably pans their gaze to the last name printed below the neckline, the greatest shock of all. We've been spelling this hooper's name incorrectly all along.
Not just pronunciation, it’s family & culture.
— Brooklyn Nets (@BrooklynNets) July 6, 2025
Learn from @whoisegor3 how to say his last name ⤵️ pic.twitter.com/OpWcctX6Ky
Dëmin? With an umlaut?
We knew early on that his Russian surname could confuse American audiences, as the language owns certain sounds and letter combinations that English simply doesn't encompass, but as Egor himself explained, he simplified his name for his BYU audience.
I don't know whether to be touched or offended. ... I'll go with touched. I could never hate you.
Like Megamind referring to his home as Metrocity, our pronunciation of his name has been wrong all along, exposing his supporters as the casuals that we are.
The official pronunciation? Dee-YO-min. His name represents his home, his family, and every aspect of his life leading up to his professional basketball career. His brief stop in Provo will not be forgotten as the basketball world watches him lace up on the game's biggest stage.
He'll always be a part of the BYU basketball family. Go be great, Dëmin.