It was almost inevitable. During his first few NBA games, Demin looked about as ready for the league as the rest of Brooklyn's rookie class—the common verdict was that "they're all raw." But by the middle of the season, his role within the team had changed dramatically.

Demin no longer has to wait for Cam Thomas to get injured before earning a place in the starting lineup. Egor is now the Nets' starting point guard, averaging 29.7 minutes per game. Just a season or two ago, the idea of Cam Thomas losing his starting spot in Brooklyn seemed unthinkable.

And when Michael Porter Jr. misses a game—as happened recently against the Utah Jazz—Demin is more than capable of taking on the scoring load as well. Just look at his performances against Utah or Orlando a couple of weeks earlier.

This rookie class is loaded with talent. Dallas star Cooper Flagg is living up to the hype, his former Duke teammate Kon Knueppel has enjoyed an impressive debut season with Charlotte, while Dylan Harper, VJ Edgecombe, and Derik Queen have all looked like elite prospects.

But there's one major difference between them and Demin.

Before he even reached college, Cooper Flagg was already holding his own against established stars on Team USA during scrimmages. Knueppel looked NBA-ready from his very first games with Charlotte. Edgecombe and Harper entered the draft as highly touted prospects and were widely expected to make the Rising Stars roster. Demin wasn't. He earned his place.

First, because of the way he responded to criticism during the season. Remember what Brooklyn head coach Jordi Fernández said back in mid-December?

"He has to play better. Otherwise, he'll play fewer minutes. Someone else will take advantage of that opportunity."

Demin did exactly that. Over the past six weeks, Fernández has spoken about him in nothing but glowing terms — and for good reason. Secondly, because of how dramatically he's improved since those opening weeks of the season.

January has seen Demin become one of Brooklyn's most efficient players. He's shooting 40.2% from three-point range while scoring both off the dribble and on catch-and-shoot opportunities. Standing 6-foot-8 (203 cm), he's nearly impossible for smaller defenders to contest, and over the course of the season his high-release jumper over defenders has become a genuine weapon.

"He's not just always ready to shoot—he's ready to make those shots in the fourth quarter. Not everyone can do that. You can't teach it."

Fernández has repeatedly praised Demin's shooting ability. Even before entering the NBA, scouts noticed something different about him during interviews and the Draft Combine. Demin simply doesn't think like most basketball players. It shows in his decision-making, his mature mindset, and even in the way he approaches life away from basketball. People around the league already appreciate his professionalism and attitude. Once again, here's Fernández:

"Egor is constantly thinking about making the right play. He does a great job finding his teammates, and he's capable of knocking down shots from long range himself. Defensively, he's improved with his positioning and the way he uses his size and length. I love his development. I love his attitude. It's impressive to see a 19-year-old making this kind of impact and helping the team win."

A selection to the Rising Stars Challenge is an outstanding reward for everything Demin has accomplished so far. But we all expect even more from him. Because nobody knows just how high his ceiling really is.

And discovering it is going to be one of the most exciting stories to follow.