The Bulls played at the second-fastest pace in the NBA last season as Head Coach Billy Donovan completely leaned into a brand-new up-tempo system. BYU guard Egor Demin would be an intriguing addition to a Chicago backcourt that already features Josh Giddey and Coby White in that transition-heavy offense.
Demin has been, somewhat confusingly, heavily linked to the Bulls in the lead-up to the 2025 NBA Draft. At first glance, it appears that the Russian is simply a Giddey clone—or perhaps a Giddey replacement—but when digging deeper, it's easy to see he's more than that.
And as this year's playoffs have borne out, championship-caliber teams in 2025 are loaded with playmakers at every position. Demin would give Chicago a particularly unique lineup with two massive, intelligent shot creators tailor-made to run Donovan's system.
Egor Demin 2025 NBA Draft Scouting Report
Undoubtedly, there are easy comparisons to make between Demin and Giddey in terms of their physical profiles and play styles. They're both 6-foot-9, high IQ, pass-first floor generals who struggle with their outside shot and man-to-man defense, although Demin has an inch on Giddey and an almost 3-inch longer wingspan.
While Giddey played his pre-NBA ball in Australia, Demin had three seasons in the same Real Madrid system that produced Luka Doncic, albeit at a lower level than the now-Los Angeles Lakers star. Demin decided to try his hand at the college level in the United States for a season with BYU before entering the draft, becoming more familiar with American basketball.
Demin averaged 10.6 points, 3.9 rebounds, 5.5 assists (compared to 2.9 turnovers) and 1.2 steals while starting 33 games in Provo. He struggled as a shooter with splits of just 41/27/70.
There's a case to be made, however, that his game is a better fit for the NBA.
"You just don't find a lot of guys with his size and level of skill," Demin's college coach, Kevin Young, told Jake Fischer on The Stein Line Substack.
Young may be biased, but he also spent eight seasons as an NBA assistant, including three as the associate head coach of the Phoenix Suns and was heavily endorsed by star Devin Booker before taking the BYU job last year. Young knows the league.
Offense
Demin is a play-generator as a lead guard. He's an intelligent, creative, willing passer capable of running a smooth, efficient, high-scoring offense. The Cougars were 24th out of 364 Division 1 teams in points per game last season while running Young's NBA-style offense.
Demin is comfortable in pick-and-roll situations and was a high-level playmaker in them last season. He's a better overall athlete than he's usually given credit for.
He's always looking to make the right play at the right time, whether he's on the ball or off. He's willing to make the smart, connective, unselfish pass if it's the correct decision.
Demin's scoring efficiency and lack of a three-point shot are by far his biggest question marks as a prospect. Young, however, noted that the 19-year-old could benefit from the more wide-open NBA game.
At the draft combine, Demin hit 17 of his 25 spot-up threes and was 17-of-28 from the corner. Becoming even an average three-point shooter would significantly unlock the best parts of his game.
Defense
Demin struggles as an on-ball defender, but he averaged 1.2 steals per game during his lone season at BYU. He's an all-around smart basketball player with a 6-foot-10 wingspan, and he uses those tools to his advantage.
He can get his hands into passing lanes and competes, even if he'll never become more than an average NBA defender at best.
Egor Demin's fit with the Chicago Bulls
On first glance, Demin seems like a square peg in a round hole of the Bulls roster. Having two non-shooters and below-average defenders in him and Giddey sounds like the opposite of what a team would want in today's NBA.
But Chicago doesn't play a typical NBA style. Having two creative, intelligent playmakers who are both 6-foot-9, excellent rebounders and crafty fast-break starters could make Donovan's transition offense hum even smoother.
Having Demin and Giddey run a fast break with shooters like Coby White spotting up above the break and an explosive 6-foot-10 athlete like Matas Buzelis sprinting to the rim seems like a fantastic recipe to outrun and outscore teams with death by a thousand shots. And with a pair of imaginative, versatile, unselfish point guards in the driver's seat, probably a thousand good looks.
It would certainly take some cleverness to field a winnable defense around a trio like Demin, Giddey and White, but the endless possibilities of a wide-open, free-flowing, charitable scoring lineup—not unlike that of the Indiana Pacers—are alluring.
For more prospect profiles and all things draft-related, check out Pippen Ain't Easy's Chicago Bulls draft page. A new prospect's scouting report will be added daily.