The pick is in, with the 12th overall pick in the NBA Draft, the Chicago Bulls will select BYU’s Egor Demin. At least, that’s what the media hints at—Vice President of Basketball Operations Artūras Karnišovas and Co. are reportedly “zoning in on” the Russian playmaker.
Yet, Demin is far from a clean fit on the Bulls’ guard-heavy roster. Despite standing 6-foot-9, Demin played point guard for the BYU Cougars. Demin ranked fourth in the Big 12 in assists per game at 5.5. His most NBA-ready skill is undoubtedly his unique passing ability.
Egor Demin’s point forward archetype resembles Josh Giddey’s
The jumbo, playmaking point forward archetype has grown considerably in recent seasons. Eight of the top 10 leaders in assists per game stood 6-foot-5 or taller. 20 years ago, only two of the top 20 leaders in assists per game stood at least 6-foot-5—LeBron James and Kobe Bryant.
The game has evolved. Nearly every squad’s roster features a playmaking forward comfortable enough to initiate the offense. The Bulls even feature one of the more radical examples in 6-foot-8 floor general Josh Giddey. The 22-year-old is the size of a forward, yet he plays point guard. He spent 70 percent of his time lining up at the one this past season.
Thus, there’s some obvious overlap between Demin and Giddey. Rostering multiple playmaking wings increases positional flexibility on a superficial level, sure. But, as briefly referenced, Giddey is a radical example, meaning his archetype isn’t similar to LeBron’s, nor is it similar to Scottie Barnes or even Franz Wagner.
Giddey’s best attribute is his passing. He’s a great rebounder and a much-improved shooter, but he doesn’t defend like Barnes or score in a myriad of ways like Wagner. Unfortunately, neither does Demin. The freshman shot merely 41.2 percent from the floor and 27.2 percent from three at BYU. While he averaged over a steal per game in college, his athletic limitations will prevent him from ever being an imposing defender a la Giddey.
If Demin can thrive both on and off ball, he’d fit well in Chicago
The Demin and Giddey comparisons are certainly valid. Nonetheless, the 19-year-old did his best to quiet the noise and present his play style and position as fluid. Making an appearance on the Ringer’s Ball Don’t Lie podcast, Demin declared that he’s a playmaker and not specifically a point guard. Quite the claim from the 6-foot-9 guard. However, he has a point, especially in today’s iteration of the almost position-less league.
Demin not expecting to take on a role as a full-time point guard is especially intriguing for the Bulls. Aside from Giddey, Chicago rosters Coby White, Ayo Dosunmu, and Lonzo Ball—all pseudo-point guards who came into the league profiled as floor generals, yet have evolved into versatile combo guards.
Who’s to say Demin can’t follow in White, Dosunmu, or even Ball’s footsteps? A Demin-Ball comparison might be most apt at this point. The former UCLA star is a much better defender, and shot the ball far better than Demin in the collegiate ranks.
However, Ball’s unorthodox shooting form caught up with him in the NBA. He struggled to shoot from the outside and also finish at the rim, leading to a ghastly 44.4 percent true shooting percentage as a rookie. Ball has since improved his shot mechanics and all-around efficiency. He was shooting 42.3 percent from both the floor and three-point range before his well-documented injury.
While Demin and Giddey are eerily similar, there’s the belief that they can co-exist. But for a compatible partnership to occur, Giddey must continue shooting the three at an impressive clip, and Demin must back up his sentiment and prove his versatility in an NBA setting.
