2025 NBA Draft: Egor Demin Scouting Report
Evaluating BYU and Russia prospect Egor Demin ahead of the 2025 NBA Draft.
DRAFT EVALUATION: Lottery pick
LAST BIG BOARD: No. 12
NBA ROLE: Big pick-and-roll playmaker
REMINDS ME OF: Josh Giddey with a better shot, Dalano Banton, one-way Dyson Daniels, Isaac Bonga
RAW STATS1: 10.6 PTS, 3.9 REB, 5.5 AST to 2.9 TOV, 1.2 STL, 0.4 BLK, 1.2 PF in 27.5 MINS over 33 GAMES
ADVANCED STATS: 4.7 BPM, 25.8 USG%, 50.9 TS%, 1.3 OREB%, 14.8 DREB%, 34.6 AST%, 24.2 TOV%, 1.9 A/TO, 2.5 STL%, 1.7 BLK%
Background:
Birthday: March 3, 2006
Height: 6-foot-92
Wingspan: Rumored to be around 7-feet
Weight: 207 pounds3
Father is Vladimir Demin, former long-time pro who played for Spartak, Khimki, etc. and represented the Russian national team. Mother is Natalia, who played basketball until she was 18. Also has an older brother. From Moscow, Russia.
“Second family” during BYU stint was Travis Hansen and his wife LaRee. Travis is a BYU basketball alum who was a second round pick for the Atlanta Hawks in 2023 before carving out a career in Russia and Spain.
Trained at the Trinta basketball academy in Moscow. Was coached by Evgeny Gorbunov.
Credited as a three-time Russian national champion and two-time MVP of the Russian National Championship by BYU.
Signed with Real Madrid in 2021 at 15 y/o. Spurned offers from France, Italy, and other clubs in Spain. Move came after impressing with Russia’s U-16s. Considered “the pearl of Russian basketball.”
In eight 2023-24 ANGT games: 15.8 points (42.1 FG%, 18.6 3P%, 73.3 FT%), 6.8 rebounds, 4.5 assists, 4.1 turnovers, 2.1 steals, 0.8 blocks
Buyout clause from Real Madrid was reported to be €550,000. Had offers from Arkansas, Duke, Illinois, and UConn before joining BYU. Total package, including NIL, for Demin topped $1 million.
Takeaway:
Egor Demin is a 6-foot-9 ballhandler who is arguably the best passer of his draft class — especially in the pick-and-roll — but with questions to answer about how he creates space in the half-court, beats defenders consistently, and scores on a regular basis.
Demin has the easiest comparison in this draft for me: Josh Giddey. In a best case scenario, Egor is a wing-sized playmaker who makes others better out of screens and in transition. That probably means being the secondary ballhandler on a very good team, but still having an important role with lots of minutes. Realistically, Demin will add value with his passing and size, but be a trickier fit against set defenses and in terms of roster construction. Questions might persist over how meaningful his production is. A lower end outcome sees him struggling for minutes because he can’t truly initiate, shoot, or defend.
The Russian prospect requires a heavy volume of pick-and-rolls to come up with creative reads that generate good shots from three and at the rim. Demin fizzes passes off the live dribble, is accurate with his deliveries in the paint, and can use his size to access difficult angles. However, he needs a screen to get downhill because his handle, athleticism, and physicality are not dynamic enough in the half-court. Demin has real issues separating against defenders, leading to problems with his finishing, turnovers, and shot selection.
I’m probably more optimistic about Demin’s shooting than most. The numbers weren’t good this season, and he is prone to cold stretches, but Egor has historically shown me a willingness and volume from three pulling up and spotting up. I really do not think that he is a non-shooter — but his lowest case outcome definitely involves being a non-factor in that area, which would really limit him as an on-ball heavy player. The issues with manufacturing space and creating good looks pop up again.
A worst case scenario for Demin looks something like this: when defenders pressure him, the handle is an issue. When defenders go under, the pull-up is a question. In drop, he needs to be more physical and assertive with his handle and size at the rim. If played off-ball, he’s unproven but he’d definitely need to adjust his tendencies and become more efficient out of spot-ups.
Demin has defensive tools with his size, length, and feel; however, he lacks the production and consistency right now. When engaged, Demin can fly around in the passing lanes and sort of alter shots around the basket using his size. However, this doesn’t happen enough. On the ball, Demin’s versatility and use is limited for now. The BYU freshman finds it hard to navigate screens, isn’t quick enough to keep up with smaller ballhandlers, and isn’t strong or productive enough to guard wings and forwards.
Offense:
Passing is his standout trait. Averaged 5.5 assists to 2.9 turnovers with4 a 1.9 A/TO and 34.6 AST% on 25.8 USG%. Encouraging on high volume with lots of responsibilities placed on him as a freshman experiencing his first year in American basketball.
Pick-and-roll chops are impressive. Creates shots from three and at the rim.
Leverages his size to tilt the court with skip passes or see over the top for drop-offs. Uses one or both hands to execute his reads with generally reliable accuracy. Can make passes out of the live dribble.
Used in Stack Pick-and-Rolls and Horns a lot at BYU. Can run NBA sets. Also has previous high-level experience with Real Madrid.
Makes his bigs better. Probably at his best when paired with a center who can play above-the-rim. Can also make the pocket pass.
Handle and space creation process in the half-court is his biggest point of improvement. Affects his passing and scoring. 24.2 TOV%. A lot of his turnovers are a byproduct of his inability to manufacture space for himself against a set defense
Almost always needs a screen to get past his defender. Even then, can struggle to beat his man. NBA defenders get bigger+longer+stronger+smarter.
Can’t break defenders down 1v1. Handle lacks genuine shake. Reliant on size and feel more than anything else. Can’t manufacture space. Finds it hard if defenders pressure his handle.
Can take a long time to create an advantage, or fail to do so, when he struggles to separate. Kills his dribble too early, too often. Can’t always beat dig-downs. Can’t always play with and/or through contact. Can overpass or force passes as a result.
Want to see him extend his drives more — both to score and pass. Sometimes wants to immediately pass the ball. Doesn’t put enough pressure on the rim yet despite being big and handling the ball a lot.
Did most of his scoring using ballscreens. 442 possessions5 as the pick-and-roll ballhandler (including passes) this season is in the 98th percentile in the amount. 73rd percentile in Points per Possession.
Made 63.6% (70/110) of his total shots at the rim this season. Needs to increase aggression and physicality, but still a 6-foot-9 ballhandler.
Half-court: 61.6% (53/86)
Transition: 75.0% (15/20)
11 dunks in 33 games
Wants to go left when he gets downhill. 26 drives left, compared to 5 drives right.
Relies on scoop finishes and screens for better or worse. Only drives in a straight line. Can get bothered by length and contact. Should get more free throws for his size and skill. Again, just finds it hard to create space.
Can he do more in transition going forward? Tools exist, but didn’t really leverage them at BYU.
Upside partly depends on becoming a grab-and-go threat. Only handled the ball in transition during 22 possessions. 27.3 TOV% is too high. Needs to clean up process handling and passing, although college game looks a lot different.
More optimistic on his three-point shooting than consensus. Numbers this season were lacking, but encouraging volume and willingness at BYU and historically.
BYU:
29.9 3P% (26/87) on catch-and-shoots
23.9 3P% (16/67) on off-dribble threes
27.3 2P% (6/22) on off-dribble twos
69.5 FT% (57/82)
4.7 threes per game (vs. 4.6 2PA) … 9.9 threes per 100 possessions
Previous:
In 23 Liga EBA (2023-24) games: 36.3 3P% (49/135), 78 FT% (32/41)
In 7 Spanish Championship (2023-24) games: 36.1 3P% (13/36), 100 FT% (12/12)
In 23 Liga EBA (2022-23) games: 40.1 3P% (61/152), 72.6 FT% (45/62)
In 7 Spanish Championship (2022-23) games: 23.1 3P% (9/39), 69.2 FT% (9/13)
In 4 ANGT Podgorica games: 22.7 3P% (5/22), 55.6 FT% (5/9)
In 4 ANGT Berlin games: 14.3 3P% (3/21), 81 FT% (17/21)
In 6 2021-22 games with the Community of Madrid team: 36.7 3P% (11/30), 73.3 FT% (11/14)
In 5 Russia U-16 games: 30.2 3P% (13/43), 66.7 FT% (4/6)
Putting all of this together puts Demin at 31.5 3P% (194/615) and 73.8 FT% (192/260) in my tracked numbers, which is nowhere near catastrophic. It’s fine to wonder how and when he’ll shoot, but he is not a non-shooter.
Will need to prove that he can make threes.
Off-ball, takes spot-ups but also flashes some comfort taking movement catch-and-shoots here and there. On-ball, likes to get to a stepback to his left after using a screen. Defenses will go under. If they pressure him, he finds it hard to get his shot off.
50.3% of his shots were threes, which seems encouraging, but I think it’s maybe more a reflection of inability to create separation in the half-court.
Portland Trail Blazers assistant GM Mike Schmitz in 2021:
“Despite playing up a year at age 15, Demin shined as one of the top long-term prospects we saw abroad. Standing 6-foot-7 with long arms, big feet and clear growth potential, the Russian guard has ideal size for a modern playmaker and the type of focus, intensity and poise you look for in an international prospect.”
“He might not have the burst or vertical explosion of a traditional lead guard, but his size allows him to see over the top of the defense to make most of the necessary reads, and his overall court sense helps him control the game when the ball is in his hands. Even if he doesn't ultimately play the point guard position, he'll have more than ample size to operate as a floor-spacing, shot-creating wing.”
“Although a bit on the streaky side (30% from 3), Demin has all the makings of a big-time shotmaker. He has excellent balance and touch -- both off the catch and off the bounce -- and has no shortage of confidence, knocking down 13 triples in just 116 minutes with several coming from beyond the NBA line.”
Does not add value as a rebounder right now. Almost strictly an on-ball player.
14.8 DREB% and 1.3 OREB% are low. Only 10 OREB in 33 games at BYU.
27 OREB in 23 games last season.
Defense:
Tools exist, but production is lacking. At BYU, 1.7 BLK% and 2.5 STL%. 50 stocks (38 steals, 12 blocks) in 33 games is low.
Didn’t have many defensive responsibilities in college. Offensive load should be taken into account, but that doesn’t excuse the low output.
Size, length, and improving frame gives him enough margin for error and, probably, a safe enough floor long-term. 6-foot-9 with a wingspan around 7-feet. The average NBA player is 6-foot-7, 215 pounds.
In 23 Liga EBA games last season: 2.1 steals, 0.7 blocks
Able to make plays with his length and size when engaged. Reads the floor decently. Covers some ground. Can move his feet, but somewhat upright. This doesn’t happen enough, though.
Taps into length to come up with steals in the passing lanes. Can get deflections in the same way or in help.
Two-way highlights are intriguing, but relatively rare. Has the means to come up with the stock and then the assist/score. Not a defensive playmaker right now, though.
Does not protect rim despite size and feel. Can sometimes alter shots or drives if he’s in the vicinity, but not particularly proactive. At 6-foot-9 and with feel, should be challenged to add more value as a defensive playmaker.
Rested off-ball at BYU a lot. Technique on verticality was decent when he challenged.
From my preseason scouting report: “Sporadically alters plays at the rim. Has some pop and verticality, but isn’t in those positions that often. Some upside probably exists at his size, so worth finding out if that is indeed the case.”
Off-ball engagement needs to improve. Process and numbers are underwhelming. Can gamble or ballwatch.
Probably at his best helping. Was also the case before BYU.
Lack of physicality is limiting, although has gotten better. Frame will keep filling out.
Can get better at making multiple efforts, although not bad.
Versatility on-ball is more theoretical than functional. Lacks strength to defend wings and forwards, although hasn’t truly been tested yet. Too stiff and upright to defend guard-sized ballhandlers. Lacks output overall.
Footspeed is slower than most guards, especially in the NBA. High center of gravity.
Probably feels most comfortable defending smaller ballhandlers, though. Can use length and size to cause issues.
Size and feel probably give him a survivable outcome in most situations — as long as he produces on offense.
Listed at 191 pounds before the season and reportedly gained 16 pounds since
Via Bart Torvik
Per Synergy