Nets stay put at No. 8 and select BYU’s Egor Demin in 2025 NBA draft

NEW YORK — Coming off a disappointing 26-56 season, the Nets stormed into the 2025 NBA draft at Barclays Center with five first-round picks, six total selections inside the top 40, league-leading cap space and a bold approach to reshaping the future of the franchise.

Entering the night armed with picks Nos. 8 (own), 19 (via Milwaukee), 22 (via Atlanta), 26 (via New York), 27 (via Houston) and 36 (own), Brooklyn had enough assets to potentially climb the draft board if needed.

After Duke’s Cooper Flagg, Rutgers’ Dylan Harper, Baylor’s VJ Edgecombe, Duke’s Kon Knueppel, Rutgers’ Ace Bailey, Texas’ Tre Johnson and Oklahoma’s Jeremiah Fears were selected in the top seven, the Nets held firm at No. 8, drafting BYU’s Egor Demin, their first lottery pick since 2010.

Demin, 19, is a 6-8 point forward from Russia who brings rare size and elite playmaking to the Nets. A versatile scorer, he excels on or off the ball and boasts high defensive potential with an impressive wingspan. Adding strength to his lean frame and improving his 3-point shooting will be key to maximizing his NBA impact.

Demin becomes the third BYU player selected in the NBA draft’s top 10, following Shawn Bradley (No. 2) and Rafael Araujo (No. 8). As the eighth overall pick, he’s projected to earn $6.8 million next season, $7.2 million in 2026-27, with team options of $7.5 million in 2027-28 and $9.6 million in 2028-29.