Q. You don't have to go very far, obviously going to be playing home games in this building. Can you talk about the reputation the Nets have gotten over the last couple years for development and things like that? What is it going to be like to be a part of that here in New York City, in Brooklyn?
EGOR DEMIN: Obviously for me it's a great opportunity to be in a team where I will be able to develop myself and also impact the game any way I can and just learn a lot from the guys who are already in the team, from the coaching staff, from the front office.
That's a historical club, historical organization. Obviously it's a lot related to Russia in the past, a lot of Russian players were going through this organization. For me, it's an honor to be a part of the Nets.
Q. In your visits with the Nets, how much did you get to know head coach Jordi Fernandez? And how cool is it to get a Spanish coach? You have a playing and Spanish background, and how can that help you in your development in the league?
EGOR DEMIN: Yeah, the workout was amazing. It was a great group of guys I was practicing with, and obviously having all these coaches around, it was a great experience. Obviously we talked a little bit with the coach, with the other guys from the front office after the workout, and it was great to get to know them and see how they think, how they see me potentially coming to this team and just being an NBA player.
Q. You've been described by some as possibly the best passing teenager on the whole planet, but also a guy whose jumper is going to be kind of the swing skill that determines what his NBA future is like. Do you agree with that assessment, and in your mind what are the things that you think you bring to a team and that you need to improve upon?
EGOR DEMIN: I'll start from the start. Obviously the passing is something that I was always doing, and this is who I am. This is who I'm trying to be. I believe in the game of basketball as a creative place where it's like art for me, and I want to play beautiful. I want to play pretty. I want to play efficient. For me, there's never a sacrifice of something, sacrifice of myself for the team or something like this. It's about making the right decision, which I'm always trying to do.
Talking about shooting, it's definitely something that obviously a lot of people talk about, and as you said, it can be both sides, good or bad. For me, I have no doubt I'm going to be a solid shooter. I'm seeing myself as a really good shooter in the future, just because I know how much I put into this, how much I put into the work to become one.
Q. We did see you talk about recently how you would see fans from Russia watching you on television, things like that. What does it mean to international players to have that support system from their hometown or home country to continue watching you guys regardless of where you're at?
EGOR DEMIN: I mean, that's amazing. For me, I lived in three different countries. I played for three different teams in three different countries with different teammates, different cultures, different coaches. It's super different, but at the same time, again, as you said, the love is the same. It's great to see that there's people from Russia who are supporting me and following me. Same as people from Spain, and same as people from America.
For me, it's a big honor to be known because this is somewhere I was trying to get as a little kid coming from Russia. I was trying always to be an NBA player.
As I said, just feeling this love and support from all of the places I've been through, that's a big honor for me. I have nothing but gratitude.
Q. Coming off your international experience, what was it that attracted you about playing in the American college system and how do you think that's positioned you for this rise into the top 10?
EGOR DEMIN: I would say the adjustment from the youth level in Europe and European basketball to playing an American style of game against older guys, against more athletes, a faster game, a faster pace in general.
Obviously the Big 12, it's one of the strongest conferences. Playing against teams like Houston, Iowa State, Arizona, Baylor, Kansas, whoever it is, every game was close for us. Even playing against Houston, obviously everybody knew that they are really strong. It's still a great experience to play against them, even if we are losing by 30.
Obviously I want to win; that's what I'm playing basketball for. But at the end of the day, I realize that every loss is an experience for me and for the future.
Q. I believe we're currently sitting in the Brooklyn Nets' practice court. Welcome home.
EGOR DEMIN: Thank you.
Q. We've heard about or seen a really successful past few months. We heard about the combine and individual workouts. Could you talk about the preparation and also the mindset leading into these past few months?
EGOR DEMIN: Yeah, I've spent a lot of time obviously getting ready for those workouts before I started doing them. I spent a lot of time in Los Angeles working out with Zach Gonzales, my coach. He gave me the max out of his effort, and his support to me was unrelated to anything else I could ever ask for.
Obviously he had his team, too, the team of coaches that were super supportive and were giving their best. I'm really grateful to these guys and obviously to my agents who were taking care of me just for this process. I'm really grateful to them that I got to this point prepared and had a chance to be a top-10 NBA pick.
Q. Do you have any NBA players that you've studied or you'd consider you model your game after? During your visit with the Nets, what did Jordi Fernandez and Sean Marks tell you about how they could envision you fitting into the system and what they're trying to build?
EGOR DEMIN: Two players I look at overall is obviously Luka and Shai, as big guards, the best players on the pick-and-roll, on the really high usage of it during the game. Obviously the heads of the snake. And being able to anticipate and really control the game with the ball in their hands.
It's exactly what I'm trying to find in Brooklyn. Coach obviously was talking about me being able to get the rebound and go. Just go and find those outlets, those athletes that Brooklyn has, their young guys who have obviously a lot of athleticism, as I said, and a lot of talent to be great finishers.
Q. You spent a lot of time in some very cosmopolitan cities, Moscow, Madrid, and now you're going to be in New York City and Brooklyn. What are you most excited about off the court being in New York City and what were your first impressions of New York City, whether you watched it on TV or heard about it? What are your first impressions of New York City?
EGOR DEMIN: This is my first time actually being here more than one day. I was here when I was here in a workout with Brooklyn, but right now obviously I could explore a little bit more and see how it is. It reminds me a little bit of Moscow, of my hometown, just in the case of how active it is. All the town is alive. So many people, cars, all that.
There's just something I like. This town, it never stops. This is something that I like about this place. It's really alive. Obviously a lot of Russian restaurants that I'm happy to visit. That's the first thing I'm going to do probably.
Q. It's been a couple of years since the Nets had a guy at the point guard spot that they felt could lead the team into the future. Talking about Kyrie Irving. With you being taken as highly as you were, do you see yourself as being able to fill the mold of the point guard of the future for the Nets?
EGOR DEMIN: Well, I was playing all my life at point guard, so I see myself as a point guard. But I also am willing to do whatever it takes for me to bring success to the team and impact the game in a good way. If Coach wants me to be a center, I'll be a center. I have no problem with that. I just know I'm a playmaker, and no matter what position I'm playing or what spot I'm playing on the floor, I'm going to make plays.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports