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By Anne Erickson
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Egor Demin needed the Summer League.
The Nets guard came into Las Vegas looking like a player with something to prove, and he left looking like someone who might finally be putting the pieces together.
Last season was a tough introduction. Demin had the size, standing 6-foot-8, but he didn't always play like someone with that kind of advantage. He spent too much time hanging around the 3-point line and not enough time using his skills to put pressure on defenses. For a young player on a rebuilding team, there were plenty of moments where the game seemed to move a little too quickly.
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This summer, the change looked real.
Demin played with more confidence and more purpose. He attacked off the dribble instead of settling, got into the paint and looked far more comfortable creating for himself and others. The talent was always there. The difference was that he finally started playing like he knew it.
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The Nets don't need Demin to simply be a tall guard who can make the occasional pass. They need him to become someone who can impact games. Someone who can use his size and make teams uncomfortable. Summer League isn't the NBA, obviously, but the way he handled himself was a step in the right direction.
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In three games in Las Vegas, Demin averaged 21.0 points and 4.3 assists while looking much more aggressive with the ball. The biggest takeaway wasn't just the production. It was the decision-making. He played with more patience but also more edge.
For Brooklyn, that's the encouraging part. You can collect young talent all you want, but eventually someone has to take a leap.
Demin might not be finished product yet, and there will still be nights where the learning curve shows up. That's normal.
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But Demin gave the Nets something they desperately needed: a reason to believe there's more coming.
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