BROOKLYN (June 26, 2025) – The Brooklyn Nets selected guard Egor Demin eighth overall, guard Nolan Traoré 19th overall, guard Ben Saraf 26th overall and forward/center Danny Wolf 27th overall in the first round of the 2025 NBA Draft at Barclays Center. Brooklyn also agreed in principle to acquire the draft rights to the 22nd overall pick, guard/forward Drake Powell, from the Atlanta Hawks in a trade that is expected to be finalized at a later date. Brooklyn’s selections set a new franchise record for first round picks chosen in a single draft (previous high: three first round picks in the 2001 and 1981 NBA Drafts).
Demin (6’8”, 199) played one season (2024-25) at Brigham Young University, where he started in each of his 33 appearances and averaged 10.6 points on 41.2 percent shooting from the floor, 3.9 rebounds, 5.5 assists and 1.2 steals in 27.5 minutes per game. The 19-year-old earned All-Big 12 Honorable Mention and Big 12 All-Freshman Team accolades during his lone season with the Cougars. The Moscow, Russia, native helped lead BYU to a Sweet 16 appearance in the 2025 NCAA Tournament and set a new program freshman record for total assists (180). Prior to his collegiate career, Demin spent the 2023-24 season with Real Madrid’s second team, where he saw action in 21 games and averaged 13.0 points on 57.1 percent shooting from the field, 5.1 rebounds and 4.3 assists.
Demin is the highest-drafted player by the Nets since the team relocated to Brooklyn (2012). He is the first lottery selection by the Nets since the organization took Derrick Favors third overall in 2010.
Traoré (6’3”, 175) spent the 2024-25 season with Saint-Quentin Basketball of France’s LNB, where he appeared in 44 games (34 starts) across LNB, Champions League Europe, French Leaders Cup and French Basketball Cup contests and averaged 12.2 points, 1.9 rebounds and 4.7 assists in 22.7 minutes per game. The 19-year-old was named Basketball Champions League Best Young Player following the 2024-25 campaign. He played two-plus seasons (2021-24) with Centre Federal Du Basket-Ball of the French NM1 division before joining Saint-Quentin. Traoré competed with the French national team during the 2024 EuroBasket Qualifiers, appearing in two games.
Demin (eighth pick) and Traoré (19th pick) are the first pair of top 20 picks selected by the Nets in a single draft since choosing Richard Jefferson (13th overall via Houston) and Jason Collins (18th overall via Houston) in the 2001 NBA Draft.
Powell (6’5”, 200) spent one season (2024-25) at the University of North Carolina, appearing in 40 total games (27 starts) and registering averages of 7.4 points on 47.2 percent shooting from the field and 36.4 percent shooting from 3-point range, 3.3 rebounds and 1.0 assists in 26.3 minutes per contest. The 19-year-old earned Carolina's Defensive Player of the Year award and scored in double figures 10 times on the season.
Saraf (6’6”, 212) has spent the 2024-25 season playing for Ratiopharm Ulm in Germany’s Basketball Bundesliga (BBL), recording averages of 11.8 points on 45.0 percent shooting from the field, 3.1 rebounds, 4.0 assists and 1.0 steals in 23.3 minutes per game in 42 appearances (28 starts). In 59 games (38 starts) across BBL, EuroCup and German Cup play, the Israeli native has recorded averages of 12.2 points, 2.8 rebounds, 4.1 assists and 1.1 steals in 23.6 minutes per contest while shooting 44.7 percent from the floor. The 19-year-old previously spent the 2023-24 season with Elitzur Kiryat Ata in the Israeli Basketball Premier League, appearing in 34 games (eight starts) and averaging 10.1 points, 2.9 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 1.1 steals in 22.6 minutes per contest. Saraf also earned MVP honors at FIBA U18 EuroBasket 2024 as the tournament's leading scorer while averaging 28.1 points per game for Israel.
Wolf (6’11”, 252) spent the 2024-25 season at the University of Michigan, where he played in and started 37 games and averaged 13.2 points on 49.7 percent shooting from the field, 9.7 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 1.4 blocks in 30.5 minutes per contest. The 21-year-old helped lead the Wolverines to a Big Ten Tournament title and earned Associated Press All-Big Ten First Team honors. Wolf previously spent two seasons (2022-24) at Yale University, where he saw action in 53 games (31 starts), posting averages of 9.5 points, 6.7 rebounds, 1.7 assists and 1.0 blocks in 21.5 minutes per game. The Glencoe, Ill., native was an All-Ivy League First Team unanimous selection and Ivy League Tournament MVP as a sophomore. Wolf also represented Israel at the U20 European Championship in 2023 and helped lead the team to a silver medal.
