The Knicks have gotten every last say against the Nets and its fans this past year, but not Summer League. Nope. Nets were not having that. They defeated the defending champs in Las Vegas 91-65 with Mikel Brown Jr. and Egor Dëmin each scoring 20 points in the victory.
Brooklyn moves onto face Atlanta on Saturday, a team boasting No. 8 pick Kingston Flemings. By little surprise, Mikel Brown Jr. and Egor Dëmin are out tonight (second night of a back-to-back). The rest will play and Joshua Jefferson
(28th pick) will make his Nets Summer League debut.
With or without the main acts, there will be plenty of minutes to be earned for the others. Enjoy!
📺 Watch
- Who: Brooklyn Nets vs. Atlanta Hawks
- When: 8:00 PM ET
- Where: Thomas & Mack Center, Las Vegas
- TV/Stream: ESPN, YES/Gotham
🏀 The Game
The Nets finished with a 2-1 record in the California Classic, and they defeated the Knicks on Friday without any problem. Things are looking good for the guys in black-and-white. Truly. The fanbase is slowly coming around to the new backcourt — two interchangeable guards who seemingly get along with one another.
That’s what it’s all about in Brooklyn. Plenty of losses the team can dwell on but right now the focus is on the good, it appears. We’ll see if that sentiment remains during the regular season, but again, it’s fun right now.
We’ll see about load management in this one. If all players are suiting up, we’ll get primetime Mikel Brown Jr. and Demin on ESPN against Kingston Flemings and the Hawks. Brown Jr. of course was taken two picks ahead of Flemings in the 2026 NBA Draft.
Otherwise, keep an eye on the other guys. There are three games left and it’s crucial for young players like Drake Powell to step up. He hasn’t shot the ball particularly well this summer, nor has he done enough to crack a spot in a rotation that’s running deep — and now is evaluation time.
In a poll surveying fans on NetsDaily, the community voted that Powell has the most to prove entering the season. Here’s the good news: he’s still only 20.
💪 Yay, Gore.
It’s no secret that Egor Dëmin is looking stronger and playing like it, too. He was asked about it on Friday night (via Erik Slater).
“I got so much stronger, and that gave me more confidence. The next step is trying. The more I try it, I think it gets better and better. So I’m very excited about all the work that I’ve done, and it’s gonna keep growing.”
It’s worth noting how Egor barely attacked the rim at Summer League last year. Now he’s a menace in that area. Hopefully we’ll get to see him on Saturday — it’s becoming clear that his days playing in Vegas are numbered, until an expansion team arrives, of course.
🫡 The Randle Effect
If you’ve been around long enough then you’ll know how much Sean Marks appreciates his guys going out to Summer League and supporting one another. Not all are in attendance, but a newcomer arrived and his presence is already being felt.
That guy is the newest acquisition: Julius Randle. Whether you like him or not, he’s someone who instills positive values into teams. He spoke on being a leader for Mikel Brown Jr.
“I just told him I was excited to help him. I really wanna that vet he can come and talk to. I know how it is early in your career… I can be that veteran shoulder he can lean on every single day, whether it’s frustration, the highs and lows, teaching him how to work every single day, weight room, whatever it is. Or if he just needs to talk about life, I wanna be that vet for him and help him out. But he’s great. He’s got a steady head on his shoulders. You can just tell he’s a good kid who comes from a great family.”
Randle did tremendous things with the Knicks before they shipped him to Minnesota. He was right at the forefront of their culture shift with a bunch of young players. He’s a former All-Star and he still put up 21 points and eight rebounds in a tough Western Conference last season.
We know Brooklyn loves their high character vets, but Randle will be more than that for Brooklyn.
🎞️ From the Vault
Exactly 10 years ago today, the Nets and Hawks faced off in Summer League. This was Marks’ first summer as GM, and Chris McCullough led the Nets with 16 points and seven rebounds in a seven-point win. That Nets team had Isaiah Whitehead, Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, and Sean Kilpatrick all playing for the Summer League team.
It ain’t that bad here!
- Mikel Brown Jr., Egor Demin give Nets fans glimpse of future at NBA Summer League – Erik Slater – Clutch Points
- Mikel Brown Jr.’s promising Nets Summer League debut had it all -Brian Lewis, NY Post
- Nets vs. Hawks summer league preview: How to watch, things to note – Sharif Phillips-Keaton
