The Atlanta Hawks found success with the international route in the 2024 NBA Draft with Zaccharie Risacher, and they could be eyeing a similar path this offseason amid a new link to BYU’s Egor Demin, a Russian-born guard drawing some noteworthy comparisons.
Listed at 6-foot-9, Demin is making the pre-draft rounds, including a work out with the Hawks, per The Stein Line’s Jake Fischer.
However, they are hardly alone in their interest, and for good reason.
“Many front offices appear intrigued by the talent that complements Demin's lengthy frame. It is no stretch to say that he is the highest-rated NBA Draft prospect with Real Madrid in his background since a certain Luka Dončić,” Fischer wrote on June 20.
“The position Demin plays to start his NBA career will ultimately be determined by the team that selects him. The elastic prospect nonetheless believes that he will be ripping rebounds that quickly turn into fast breaks from Day 1. He’ll certainly have to shoot the long ball better at the next level than his 27.3% success rate at BYU, but he's only 19.”
Demin averaged 10.6 points, 5.5 assists, and 3.9 rebounds for the Cougars during the 2024-25 season.
Yahoo Sports’ Kevin O’Connor compared him to Anthony Black and Josh Giddey.
“Demin has a rare ability at his size to make dazzling passes,” O’Connor wrote on June 12. “But he’s also struggled to shoot and create his own shot against lengthy defenders, making him more of a love-him or hate-him prospect than a sure thing.”
Hawks have Egor Demin-like prospect in G Leaguer
Demin’s ceiling is undoubtedly higher, but his skill set evokes visions of 2023 second-round pick Nikola Djurisic, whom the Hawks acquired on draft night and stashed in the G League on the College Park Skyhawks as a rookie.
Djurisic is another international product, who left his pro career overseas to get into the Hawks’ system.
A toe injury hindered him to start his rookie season, but he played well once he was healthy.
Djurisic averaged 12.2 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 3.3 assists with just under 1.0 steals per game, making three starts in 24 appearances with the Skyhawks. He could be in for a significant step forward and may even be one to watch for a roster spot battle in training camp.
That should not preclude the Hawks from selecting Demin if he is the highest-rated player on their board when they are on the clock.
The Hawks have two first-round picks in the 2025 NBA Draft: Nos. 13 and 22.
There is some speculation that they could be in the market for a trade up that could yield Duke center Khaman Maluach, widely projected to be a top-6 pick. Perhaps the Hawks would consider a smaller move to secure Demin.