Egor Demin is still adjusting to the differences between college life in Utah and his first season with the Brooklyn Nets, and the rookie guard described those changes in detail during a recent conversation with former BYU standout Jimmer Fredette on his podcast From the Logo with Jimmer Fredette.
The No. 8 pick in the 2025 NBA Draft explained that basic expenses in New York have already tested him. When Fredette asked what he planned to buy first, Demin answered, via HoopsHype, “That’s a good question. I mean, everything I’ve been buying right now is—I paid my rent, which was not easy. It was… it was frustrating.”
He added that the jump from Utah to New York created an immediate financial adjustment. “Coming from Utah to New York and paying for rent—it’s pretty hard, I can’t lie. That wasn’t, mentally, the easiest thing,” Demin said.
The Nets newcomer has also been working on building a professional wardrobe. “I got some needs—some clothes, you know. I’ve got to—now I’ve got to be on the same level with the status in clothes,” he said.
He mentioned that furnishing his place added another layer of cost. “And yeah, just kind of stuff like this. Furniture costs a lot here too,” Demin said. “Furniture—it also hurt.”
Demin noted he is not planning any major purchases during his first season. “I’m not planning to buy a car this year, so I don’t think there’s going to be a big purchase. I think I’m just going to—again—I’m just going to try to be smart with my money and, yeah, look for the opportunities where to invest it and make sure they’re safe.”
The adjustment extends beyond finances. Demin said the social environment has changed drastically compared to his time at BYU. “Uh, you know, from college at BYU, we go—we do bonfire, we go play bowling, you know, hikes, things like this,” he said.
He explained that the professional schedule and personal responsibilities of teammates make hanging out less common. “And here every—majority of people have families. Some guys have kids, wives, and, you know, then everybody’s tired. Nobody wanna really go and hang out.”
Even when teammates make plans, the setting is different from what he prefers. “And if they do, it’s—majority of time, it’s a club or something like this,” Demin said. Fredette responded, “Different hangout than we want.” Demin agreed. “Yeah, yeah. Which—which I’m not—I’m not trying to go to those places, that’s for sure.”
Despite the off-court adjustments, Demin has taken on a steady role in Brooklyn’s rotation. Through 10 games, he is averaging 7.1 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 3.3 assists in 20.8 minutes while shooting 39.3 percent from the field and 37.5 percent from three.
Brooklyn sits at 1–10 after its loss to Toronto on November 11, and Demin continues to log developmental minutes as the franchise works to stabilize its early-season performance.
