Brooklyn Nets rookie guard Egor Demin, the team’s sole representative at this year’s All-Star Weekend, is set to make his mark in the Rising Stars Challenge. Coached by former Nets star Vince Carter, Demin and his teammates are eager to showcase their talents on the court.
In a last-minute adjustment prior to the start of the Rising Stars Challenge, it was announced that Memphis Grizzlies forward Cedric Coward will not participate due to right knee soreness. Replacing Coward on Team Vince will be San Antonio Spurs rookie forward Carter Bryant. This change allows Demin and Carter to collaborate with another promising rookie as they aim for victory in the event.
Although Bryant has faced challenges this season, he has recently begun to find his rhythm. Over his last six outings, he has averaged 9.0 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 1.2 assists, while maintaining shooting efficiencies of 41.3% from the field and an impressive 44.0% from three-point range.
Coward’s absence is significant, given his strong performance for the Grizzlies, where he averaged 13.3 points, 6.2 rebounds, and 2.9 assists per game while shooting at a solid rate of 46.8%. Nevertheless, Demin, at just 19 years old, has been proving to be a valuable asset for the Nets, contributing 10.8 points, 3.1 rebounds, and 3.3 assists per game with a shooting percentage of 40.6% from the field and an impressive 39.6% from beyond the arc.
As Team Vince prepares to face off against formidable teams like Team Melo, Team T-Mac, and Team Austin, the emphasis will be on each player’s ability to step up. With the Rising Stars Challenge kicking off tonight at 9 PM ET on Peacock, all eyes will be on how Demin, Carter, and Bryant perform in this exciting showcase of emerging NBA talent.