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With the Nets tipping off Wednesday against the Hornets, it’s hard to quantify just how far Egor Dëmin has come from this point a year ago as a rookie.
But coach Jordi Fernández’s quippy answer does speak to Dëmin’s biggest strides.
“Maybe ask the performance team about his weight and how much bigger his biceps is. Maybe that’s a way to quantify,” Fernández said. “I’m very happy with the way he’s played. …He sees the floor very well, and he’s done a great job getting into the [paint].”
Dëmin’s added muscle has been well documented, as has his growth from a lithe teen who struggled against NBA physicality to a more filled-out version.
The second-year guard couldn’t or wouldn’t say how much stronger he’s gotten, only that he’s more ready for the rigors of the league.
“That’s true. There was a growth, a significant growth, in what dumbbells I’m picking up on the arm day, yeah,” Dëmin laughed.
But for the Russian, it’s about more than just touching the paint or even getting to the rim.
It’s about knowing what to do when he gets there.
“Yeah, play off two feet and look for the spray or keep your options open. But don’t go in there without a plan,” Fernández said. “He’s done a great job. He’s worked at it, and shown he’s way more comfortable now getting there.
“When you’re 18, 19, the game goes so fast. Now it slows down, because you’re more confident, you’re stronger. We’ve seen it in preseason — he’s just got to continue to do it in the regular season.”
That regular season starts Wednesday against the visiting Hornets.
Dëmin will likely start on the ball, with Mikel Brown Jr. still on a minutes limit. That means Dëmin will have to not only not get turned at the point of attack, but actually have a plan once he gets in the paint.
“I haven’t done that for a while, getting to the rim like that actively, and sometimes when I get there it’s hard to believe, where I’m like, ‘I’m actually here,’ and I almost expect something to happen,” Dëmin admitted. “So for me, realize that I’m actually a big body, so… it’s harder to defend for people, especially now. So just having a state of mind that nobody can stop me, and just having that idea of getting there aggressively and finishing with quality and not just to show that I got to the paint.”
Joshua Jefferson (back) practiced full contact Monday and will be available vs. Charlotte. Tyler Bilodeau will be out with a sprained shoulder.
Fernández on having legendary soccer coach Pep Guardiola — who is also Catalan — visit during the summer: “He loves basketball, so he wanted to see the gym and the players and watch them work out. … He’s curious on how we do things, how we work here. And obviously I have a lot of questions for him on how he’s handled certain situations. … There’s a lot you can learn from a leader like that. He’s one of my favorites, so it’s always good to see him and obviously have him [here].”
