Michael Porter Jr. has been impressed by Egor Demin’s development and believes the Brooklyn Nets guard is capable of making a significant improvement this season.
Demin has worked on becoming stronger and more effective when attacking the basket, adding another dimension to a game that already includes shooting and playmaking.
“I’m excited to play with Egor,” Michael Porter Jr. said. “He’s a phenomenal shooter and scorer, but also a great passer. So he can do a lot of things on the court, rebound, push the break, shoot the ball. And now that he’s getting in the paint and finishing around the rim, he’ll make a humongous jump.”
Porter has particularly noticed the impact of Demin’s work with strength and conditioning coach Alvin Dike.
He believes the added physical strength is allowing the young guard to operate more comfortably with the ball against defensive pressure.
“Yeah, I can’t rave on Egor enough in terms of the work he’s put in, the difference that I’m seeing with him playing,” Porter said. “And Egor was a dude who already last year had such big flashes. He showed a lot of clutch performances. He showed his fearlessness, his shooting ability. And working with [Dike] in the weight room, [he looks] better and different.
“Egor is a lot more comfortable with the ball in his hands as a point guard. Guys aren’t able to crowd him and be physical around him. He’s very comfortable with the ball in his hands. He’s also, as a scorer, touching the paint more, getting downhill more, looks very comfortable finishing around the rim.
“So Egor is very comfortable playing the point guard position or the shooting guard position. He definitely has physically matured enough to play the point guard if that’s needed, because guys aren’t bothering him when he’s pressured.”
