«Now I know much more about the NBA and my own capabilities». Egor Demin on his first season in the best league in the world
Hey Sports.ru,
I’m going to walk you through everything in order – there’s a lot of news.
First, Los Angeles and my first All-Star Weekend. Even 10 or 15 years from now, I’ll still remember that Rising Stars game, the atmosphere, and getting to meet legendary players. CARMELO ANTHONY, TRACY McGRADY, VINCE CARTER! I had met Vince before, but this time I got to play under his coaching. That was unforgettable, especially because our team won.
I also especially remember meeting Pacers legend Reggie Miller, one of the greatest shooters in NBA history. Reggie works as a commentator and analyst now, and it was really cool to hear that he’s been following Brooklyn games and likes the way I play. We literally ran into each other in the arena hallway, talked for a bit, took a photo… Honestly, those few days in Los Angeles during All-Star Weekend still feel unreal. I’m still trying to put all the memories, meetings, and conversations together in my head.
In reality, players don’t just come in for the All-Star Game itself – the NBA also puts on a whole series of separate events at the same time. We had an important meeting with representatives of the NBA Players Association. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar himself spoke there. Other well-known players were there too, including Jamal Crawford. Young players, rookies, and second-year guys were given a look at how the NBA really works behind the scenes – financial matters, media responsibilities, and how things operate off the court. We talked about a lot of things that aren’t directly related to basketball. It was really interesting to be part of that and hear from the people organizing it.
When I was a kid, I used to imagine myself as an NBA player all the time, but I could never have imagined what it would actually feel like in real life. Of course, I watched games and followed certain players. I remember my first jersey was a Dwyane Wade Miami jersey, my older brother was a LeBron James fan, and my dad was all about Chris Bosh. That was our big three. Later, I also had a Kyrie Irving Boston jersey. Back then, I could never have imagined that one day I would meet all of those players – and even share the floor with some of them.
My first NBA season is now over. I haven’t really sat down and reflected on everything yet – right now I’m focused on getting ready for the summer. I played in 52 games, and it was an invaluable experience, a completely new feeling. Now I know so much more about the league, the teams, and my own potential — and that’s the biggest thing for me. So yes, I’m happy, and I consider the season a successful one for myself.
Right now, the plan is recovery. Weight room work, strength training focused on improving my foot and staying healthy – making sure I avoid any possible injuries during the offseason. After that, I’ll start adding running work back in and get on the court again for basketball workouts with the ball. Then it’ll be time to get back in the gym with the team in Brooklyn.
Thank you so much to everyone who followed my first NBA season, supported me, stayed up for Nets games in the middle of the night, left comments, and read the blog.
