{"id":107757,"date":"2024-11-19T16:46:12","date_gmt":"2024-11-19T21:46:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/?p=107757"},"modified":"2024-11-19T16:46:12","modified_gmt":"2024-11-19T21:46:12","slug":"byu-egor-demin-solves-spurs-problem-draft","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2024\/11\/19\/byu-egor-demin-solves-spurs-problem-draft\/","title":{"rendered":"BYU\u2019s Egor Demin Solves Western Team\u2019s Point Guard Problem"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>At 6-foot-9, BYU freshman <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sports-reference.com\/cbb\/players\/egor-demin-1.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Egor Demin<\/a> could be next in a long line of supersized point guard\u2019s who excel in the NBA. Averaging 17.0 points, 7.5 assists, and 2.3 steals per game while knocking down 55.0 percent of his threes, he\u2019s looking like one of the 2025 NBA Draft\u2019s real risers.<\/p>\n<p>His offensive skillset mirrors Indiana Pacers floor general <a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/h\/halibty01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Tyrese Haliburton<\/a>. His defensive traits that are similar to Atlanta Hawks rising star <a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/d\/daniedy01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Dyson Daniels<\/a>. Alone, the Russian playmaker brings a lot to a team, but together? In the NBA, his relative lack of explosiveness and strength could become obstacles to his success. Regardless, Demin has become a hot name for good reason.<\/p>\n<p>He has had flaws, most of which are correctable. However, he does a lot that can\u2019t be taught. His abilities as a facilitator, by far the most impressive part of his game, are instinctual. The deftness of his passes seems to be second nature.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">Good passers see passing windows as soon as they open, great passers foresee where the passing window will open.<br \/>\nEgor Demin definitely belongs to the second category. <a  href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/OkTCu9XZ6Z\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">pic.twitter.com\/OkTCu9XZ6Z<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Francesco Semprucci (@fra_sempru) <a  href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/fra_sempru\/status\/1857959046604628262?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">November 17, 2024<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>That isn\u2019t to say there wasn\u2019t training and film study that made him more sharp, simply that it\u2019s his gift. Add to that Demin refining his three-point stroke, and he\u2019s a double-edged weapon as a player who can control the game but still play off of others. At the other end, he\u2019s shown himself to be an asset with his ability to switch and swipe.<\/p>\n<p>When the 2025 NBA Draft rolls around, he\u2019ll have a number of lottery teams interested in his services.<\/p>\n<h2>BYU\u2019s Egor Demin Solves Spurs\u2019 Point Guard Problem<\/h2>\n<p>The San Antonio Spurs are currently projected to land the 10th overall pick in the upcoming draft.<\/p>\n<p>Recent mock drafts, like that of Bleacher Report\u2019s Jonathan Wasserman, have him <a href=\"https:\/\/bleacherreport.com\/articles\/10143051-2025-nba-mock-draft-full-2-round-predictions-and-pro-comps-after-1-month\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">creeping into the top-five<\/a>. Given that the Utah Jazz, Brooklyn Nets, and Portland Trail Blazers are teams that could have a top-five pick and be looking for backcourt help, that\u2019s feasible. However, there are <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2024\/11\/06\/2025-nba-draft-top-point-guard-prospects\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_self\">several guard prospects with lottery talent<\/a>, namely <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sports-reference.com\/cbb\/players\/dylan-harper-1.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Dylan Harper<\/a> (Rutgers), <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sports-reference.com\/cbb\/players\/vj-edgecombe-1.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">VJ Edgecombe<\/a> (Baylor) and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sports-reference.com\/cbb\/players\/tre-johnson-2.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Tre Johnson<\/a> (Texas).<\/p>\n<p>Still, none of them fit the Spurs\u2019 needs like Demin, so they should pray that he\u2019s still available when they\u2019re on the clock.<\/p>\n<h3>What He Brings To The Team<\/h3>\n<p>12-time All-Star, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/p\/paulch01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Chris Paul<\/a>, is likely just a one-year rental for the San Antonio Spurs. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/c\/castlst01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Stephon Castle<\/a>, the fourth overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft, has been characterized as his understudy. Yet, early into his rookie season, Castle doesn\u2019t look like a lead guard.<\/p>\n<p>That isn\u2019t to say he doesn\u2019t know how to facilitate or initiate the offense. The Georgia native is just more of an off-guard or wing than a point guard. He\u2019s more of a connector than play manipulator.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">gettin&#8217; fancy with it \ud83c\udf1f <a  href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/QWV0tFXI8P\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">pic.twitter.com\/QWV0tFXI8P<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 San Antonio Spurs (@spurs) <a  href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/spurs\/status\/1854694414603485444?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">November 8, 2024<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>Fortunately for Demin, the Spurs are willing to adjust their plans. Fortunately for San Antonio, Paul has already given them a template of how to succeed with both Demin and Castle. Because of his skillset, Demin can take the torch from Paul, allowing Castle to develop more organically rather than being thrown into the fire.<\/p>\n<h3>Demin Time<\/h3>\n<p>Though <a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/w\/wembavi01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Victor Wembanyama<\/a> is pretty comfortable <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2024\/11\/14\/spurs-victor-wembanyama-shot-diet-winning-formula\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_self\">taking shots beyond the arc<\/a>, he\u2019s still 7-foot-4 and needs to get shots around the rim. Without a true point guard on the roster in Wembanyama\u2019s rookie season, San Antonio often had a hard time feeding him. When Paul leaves, there\u2019s no need to revert to that.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">Wemby off the lob from CP3! <a  href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/A1MKFYsv6I\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">pic.twitter.com\/A1MKFYsv6I<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 WembyMuse (@Wemby_Muse) <a  href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/Wemby_Muse\/status\/1857588411311255868?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">November 16, 2024<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>Demin\u2019s passing ability will help them continue to take full advantage of Wembanyama\u2019s skillset, which is essential for their success.<\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s not just Wembanyama though, as core players like <a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/v\/vassede01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Devin Vassell<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/s\/sochaje01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Jeremy Sochan<\/a> are frequently on the receiving end of assists. Even Castle, a timely cutter, has his game enhanced by great point guard play. So, by drafting Demin, he wouldn\u2019t be stepping on anyone toes so much as teaching them how to square dance.<\/p>\n<p>That being said, a starting lineup of Demin, Vassell, Castle, Sochan, and Wembanyama could cut a rug for the next 5-10 years.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>At 6-foot-9, BYU freshman Egor Demin could be next in a long line of supersized point guard\u2019s who excel in the NBA. Averaging 17.0 points, 7.5 assists, and 2.3 steals per game while knocking down 55.0 percent of his threes, he\u2019s looking like one of the 2025 NBA Draft\u2019s real risers. His offensive skillset mirrors [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5008,"featured_media":107911,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"no","_lmt_disable":"","sfio_featured_image":false,"sfio_embed_code":"","_ef_editorial_meta_date_first-draft-date":"","_ef_editorial_meta_paragraph_assignment":"","_ef_editorial_meta_checkbox_needs-photo":"","_ef_editorial_meta_number_word-count":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[556,1608,62,34],"tags":[229,49834,98,49264,4669],"class_list":["post-107757","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-nba-draft","category-basketball","category-nba","category-spurs","tag-chris-paul","tag-egor-demin","tag-nba-draft","tag-stephon-castle","tag-victor-wembanyama"],"modified_by":"Quenton S Albertie","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/107757","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5008"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=107757"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/107757\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/107911"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=107757"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=107757"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=107757"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}