Camron Smith Breaks Down Egor Demin’s NBA Draft Combine Performance: “He Showed Poise, Versatility, and Pro-Level IQ”
Camron Smith has seen his fair share of young talent come and go through the ranks, but there was something different in his tone when he spoke about Egor Demin after the 2025 NBA Draft Combine. Smith, a respected analyst and former player who now provides in-depth coverage of the draft process, was effusive in his praise for the 6-foot-9 Russian guard.
“He showed poise, versatility, and pro-level IQ,” Smith said without hesitation. “You don’t often see a guy that size with that kind of command, especially in a setting like the Combine where nerves can get to a lot of people. Egor was calm, confident, and composed. That’s what stood out to me.”
Demin entered the Combine as one of the more intriguing international prospects, having spent time playing for Real Madrid in the EuroLeague and making waves as a long, crafty playmaker with a developing perimeter game. But until NBA personnel got a close-up look at him during drills, scrimmages, interviews, and testing, there were still questions about how he would translate to the NBA floor.
Those questions might not be fully answered yet, but Demin’s showing in Chicago certainly moved the needle.
Smith noted that one of the biggest takeaways from Demin’s performance was his adaptability in game-speed scrimmages. “There’s a huge difference between being a good workout guy and being a guy who can actually make winning plays in live action,” Smith explained. “In both of the scrimmage games, Egor never forced anything. He let the game come to him, made the right reads, and didn’t try to prove too much. That, to me, is high-level maturity.”
What impressed Smith and others the most was Demin’s ability to seamlessly shift between roles on the court. In one possession, he would be bringing the ball up the floor and initiating the offense. On the next, he’d be spotting up on the wing or cutting off the ball for a smart relocation. That versatility, both on and off the ball, has become one of the most valuable traits in today’s NBA, and Demin displayed it in spades.
“He’s not locked into being just a point guard or just a shooting guard,” Smith continued. “He’s more of a modern hybrid. You can use him as your secondary ball-handler, run him in pick-and-rolls, or let him operate out of the high post. The way he processes the game — it’s like he’s always one step ahead. That’s what I mean by pro-level IQ.”
At 6-foot-9, Demin is a matchup nightmare. He sees over smaller defenders, and his passing out of traps and double teams is advanced for his age. Smith specifically highlighted a moment in the second scrimmage when Demin used a hesitation dribble to freeze a defender, then whipped a cross-court pass with his off-hand to a shooter in the corner for a wide-open three.
“That’s the kind of play that gets coaches excited,” Smith said. “You can’t teach that kind of feel. He saw the rotation coming before the help even moved. That’s a pro read. That’s an NBA-level decision. You can work on mechanics and improve your jumper, but that kind of vision is just in you.”
Demin’s measurements at the Combine also raised eyebrows. Officially listed at 6-foot-9 with a 6-foot-10 wingspan, he weighed in at 210 pounds, giving him the kind of frame scouts drool over in a league increasingly defined by size and switchability. He also posted strong agility numbers in the shuttle run and excelled in the lane agility drill, indicating that his length does not come at the cost of mobility.
“He’s going to be able to guard multiple positions, no question,” Smith said. “That length and quickness combination is rare. He’ll need to add strength, especially if he’s going to switch onto power wings or physical guards. But that’s the easy part. The foundation is already there.”
Another area where Demin stood out was in his interview sessions. Several league executives reportedly came away impressed with his professionalism and his grasp of NBA systems. A fluent English speaker with a confident demeanor, Demin carried himself with the poise of a veteran — something Smith emphasized when discussing the often-underestimated cultural transition for international players.
“A lot of guys from overseas take time to adjust off the court,” Smith explained. “Egor seems like he’s already got a handle on the lifestyle, the media, the responsibilities that come with being a pro in the U.S. That maturity is going to help him make an early impact. He’s got the right mindset.”
While Demin’s shooting numbers were not elite during his time with Real Madrid — he hovered in the low 30s from three-point range — his mechanics looked clean at the Combine. He shot the ball well in spot-up drills and displayed improved rhythm off the dribble, particularly from midrange.
“Is he a lights-out shooter right now? No,” Smith admitted. “But the form is there, and he’s a willing shooter. More importantly, he understands when to shoot. That’s part of the IQ piece I keep talking about. He doesn’t take bad shots. He reads the defense and reacts. That alone puts him ahead of a lot of other young guys.”
Perhaps the most telling endorsement of Demin’s performance came from the reactions of other players. During scrimmages, several top prospects began looking for Demin in transition, trusting his decision-making and ability to push the pace. That kind of trust, according to Smith, can’t be manufactured.
“When your peers start deferring to you — that means something,” Smith said. “You could tell that other guys respected his game. They saw he wasn’t out there for himself. He was trying to make winning plays. That speaks volumes.”
As the Combine wrapped and front offices began reshuffling their big boards, Demin’s name began creeping up mock drafts. Once projected as a fringe first-rounder or early second-round steal, Demin may now hear his name called in the late lottery or somewhere in the teens. For a player with his size, feel, and maturity, that’s not a stretch — it’s a logical adjustment.
Smith believes Demin is one of the draft’s most unique prospects, capable of carving out a long NBA career as a connector and high-IQ contributor.
“You’re not drafting him to be a 30-point scorer,” Smith clarified. “You’re drafting him because he makes everyone around him better. He’s the kind of guy who can play 12 years in the league, be a key piece on a playoff team, and never need the spotlight. That kind of player wins you games in April and May.”
When asked where he’d ideally like to see Demin land, Smith pointed to a franchise with a strong development program and a need for unselfish playmakers. “Think about a team like the Indiana Pacers or the Toronto Raptors,” he said. “Somewhere that values high-IQ basketball and isn’t afraid to give young guys responsibility early on. Egor is ready for that.”
With just over a month remaining before the 2025 NBA Draft, Demin’s momentum is building. And thanks to a breakout Combine performance that turned heads across the league, his name is now firmly in the conversation with some of the class’s most talked-about guards and wings.
Smith, who has analyzed countless players over the years, offered one final thought.
“There are a lot of flashier names in this draft. There are guys with viral mixtapes and crazy verticals. But when it comes to guys who understand the game, who can adapt to any situation, who are built for the long haul — Egor Demin is right there at the top. And any team that passes on him? They’re going to regret it.”
With those words, Camron Smith didn’t just break down Egor Demin’s Combine showing. He issued a warning to every front office thinking of sleeping on one of the most polished prospects in the 2025 NBA Draft.