Egor Demin’s NBA Draft Moment Goes Viral With Upset Nets Fan originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
Egor Demin might be unknown to many in Brooklyn, but he’s about to make a name for himself in the NBA. The former BYU standout was drafted No. 8 overall by the Nets, becoming the first Cougar taken in the NBA Draft since 2011.
There was one moment that went viral during ESPN’s coverage of the draft. A Nets fan in the crowd at the Barclays Center lipped the words “Who is that” in response to Demin being drafted.
This Brooklyn fan wasn’t a fan of the Egor Demin pick 😅 pic.twitter.com/8j6X5daFSk
— TSN (@TSN_Sports) June 26, 2025
The 6-foot-9 guard out of BYU, averaged 10.6 points, 5.5 assists, and earned All-Big 12 Freshman Team honors. Demin became the highest-drafted BYU player since Rafael Araujo went eighth in 2004. He’s also the only current NBA player from Russia.
Demin said his one season at BYU playing for head coach Kevin Young was instrumental in getting him to the NBA.
“That means the world for me,” Demin said. “Going all the way from Russia, moving to Spain and then moving to America, playing for Young, who is an NBA coach. I mean, that means the world to me. It’s just incredible, and it’s my dream. That’s what I was looking to accomplish for many, many years.”
Related: Brooklyn Nets Take Egor Demin With 8th Overall Pick in 2025 NBA Draft
With the unwavering support of his family, Demin views his impending NBA opportunity as a way to validate all the sacrifices they’ve made together. “Everything we went through,” he told Athlon Sports’ Kyle Wood, “I want them to know it was worth it.”
Related: BYU’s AJ Dybantsa Becomes College Basketball’s Top NIL Earner
Demin worked out for a majority of teams in the top 20 of the draft order with Nets pulling off a surprise pick.
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 26, 2025, where it first appeared.