PHILADELPHIA — Nets rookie Egor Dëmin has responded to some tough love and hard coaching with a maturity that belies his tender age of 19.
“Yeah, it’s very impressive because if you would’ve seen me when I was 19, I don’t know if you would’ve thought anything good,” Jordi Fernández said before the Nets’ 114-106 win over the 76ers. “But you see him, and you go back to these kids have been put in those situations and you demand from them.
“He gives you a very good game against Milwaukee after being challenged. And then you always want the same or better. And we keep telling the kid, not forgetting that he’s 19, but his intentions are in the right place.”
Dëmin has bounced back well. After a three-game slump that saw him muster just 4.7 points on .313 shooting, Fernández and the staff challenged him.
The Russian teen responded, entering Tuesday’s tilt at Philadelphia having scored in double figures in three straight games for the first time in his young career. He’d averaged 15.7 points, 3.3 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 1.3 steals on .472/.375/.800 splits.
He added 20 points, five assists and two rebounds in the win over Philadelphia.
His six games with at least four 3-pointers are second-best in this rookie class (behind only Kon Knueppel) and tied with Bojan Bogdanovic in 2014-15 for the second most by a Nets rookie (behind Kerry Kittles’ nine in 1996-97).
“Egor is a kid that cares so much about doing the right thing the whole time. Obviously it stands out, his size for his position and ability to shoot the ball and share the ball,” said Fernández. “He does a great job finding the 3-point line for his teammates and shooting the 3 himself, but he’s done a much better job being aggressive getting into the paint. When he’s finished aggressive at the rim, he’s done a great job.”
“Defensively, his positioning and using his size. His deflections have been very good, and his rebounding, going vertical at the rim. He’s still gotta take the one-on-one challenge and physicality on both ends, but I like how he’s progressing, I like how much he cares. That’s why he had a big game last game, especially in the fourth quarter. It’s very special to see a 19-year-old have that impact and help us win.”
Ben Saraf and Terance Mann were both available Tuesday against the 76ers.
Mann, who had four points and five rebounds in 30 minutes, was cleared after initially being added to the injury report as ill. Meanwhile, Saraf, who did not ultimately play in the win, joined the team after a 40-point eruption for Long Island in the G-League Showcase on Monday. He’d hurt his ankle during that tilt but played through it.
Last year, Brooklyn had inked Tosan Evbuomwan to a two-way deal days after he’d excelled in the Showcase. They have an open two-way spot.
VJ Edgecombe sat out for the 76ers.
