970x125
Nets rookie Egor Dëmin got his first career start Friday.
There could be more to come with Cam Thomas out long-term.
Dëmin had eight points, a team-high seven assists, three rebounds, a steal and just one turnover in 23:03 against the Pistons.
Fans who are all in on this youth movement are getting to see the guard develop in the pick-and-roll in real time.
“He had seven assists to one turnover against a team that forced us to 20 turnovers, so that’s pretty good. And he’ll keep getting better,” Jordi Fernández said. “It’s a good way to experience those minutes. Those 23 minutes are extremely valuable. He did good things. He shot the ball, he was aggressive with his 3s. I’m very, very happy with everything, his playmaking and all that. So, ready for that next one.”
The next one is Sunday at the Garden against the rival Knicks.
After having to guard Cade Cunningham, next up is Jalen Brunson.
“He still needs to get used to the physicality of the game, the schemes and communication,” Fernández said. “Right now the game is going so fast for him. When we’re all young, everything is so intense, and at one point when you have more experience and a different type of confidence, then things start to slow down.
“So he’s a really smart kid. He asks questions, he works at it, so I know he’ll understand all that. His super power on defense [is] his length and rebounding. And if you look at [Friday], he grabbed three rebounds. And he should be able to get a lot of deflections because … his length, his positioning on defense is very good. So, keep growing on that end of the floor for sure.”
Dëmin forced a pair of ill-advised shots in the game-turning 9-0 run the Nets conceded to close the first half, and Fernández pulled him aside for a teaching moment.
The teen’s response underscored his maturity.
“I think it’s great,” Dëmin said. “It’s really good for everybody — not just me, but the whole group in general — knowing that Jordi is really trying to help us and help the group. And he’s super open to communicate and tell us what exactly he wants from us and not just the group, but each of us as a personnel.
“And for me, it’s important to hear some advice from him during the game, before the game, after the game, things like this. So I think it’s really cool.”
Friday marked the first time that all five of the Nets’ first-round rookies were healthy.
Dëmin and Drake Powell faced Detroit, while Ben Saraf, Danny Wolf and Nolan Traore were in the G-League to lead Long Island’s season opening win.
Saraf came off the bench and had 11 of his team-high 21 points in the fourth quarter.
Wolf added 15 points and 11 rebounds after a slow start, while Traore finished with 12 points and seven assists.
Saraf, Wolf and Traore will all miss the Knicks clash, still on G-League assignment.
Thomas (hamstring) and Haywood Highsmith (knee) are hurt.
The Nets have sold out four of their five home games despite a rebuild, and are playing to 99.7 percent capacity.
