San Antonio Spurs Forward Jeremy Sochan Gains Reputation as Thorn in LeBron James' Side

Jeremy Sochan has been an understated defender for the San Antonio Spurs, but recent performances against the Los Angeles Lakers and LeBron James suggest he will be elite.

The San Antonio Spurs split two games with the Los Angeles Lakers on Wednesday and Friday this week. The first game saw LeBron James sit on the bench while Anthony Davis and Victor Wembanyama duked it out, and the rematch, which the Spurs won 129-115, was the Jeremy Sochan show.

Yes, Devin Vassell scored a career-high 36 points and Wembanyama recorded another double-double, but the Spurs held James to 23 points in 35 minutes. For the NBA’s all-time leading scorer, Sochan is quickly becoming a thorn in his side.

Jeremy Sochan guards Paolo Banchero.  / Daniel Dunn-USA TODAY Sports

In four games against James, Sochan is holding him to 4-of-20 shooting with six turnovers and eight assists. Sochan did all that damage in just 21 total minutes and has only fouled James twice in his career.

Time in and time out, Sochan is tasked with guarding the best player on the other team. Victor Wembanyama shuts down the paint, but Sochan has to rove around the perimeter and midrange and has held the league’s best players to average shooting numbers this season (58 percent on two-pointers, 36 percent from three). His defensive chops went viral last season for pestering Luka Doncic, and he took a jab on social media at LeBron last season. Clearly, he has no issues going up against the league’s big guns.

After Friday’s game, his understated performance against LeBron was highly praised. In five minutes, he held James to 0-for-5 shooting, two turnovers, and two assists. “He gave everything he could,” Gregg Popovich said. “He did a good job guarding LeBron, he made him think about it, made him hesitate once in a while. You’re not going to stop the guy, he’s spectacular, but Jeremy took on the challenge.”

Wembanyama contributed two blocks and has helped land the Spurs the fifth-best defensive rating since taking over as the starting center, but he gave Sochan his flowers. “Our defense sometimes was the best part of the game,” Wemby said. “Jeremy put some crazy pressure on their best players and he has a big key role in our rotations.”

Devin Vassell had the best game of his career, but he also wasn’t shy about giving Sochan credit for the win. “It’s going to be tough any night down the stretch. Jeremy played huge. He was getting through screens, fighting through screens and really just making it tough, making him pass the ball and making other people try and score,” he said.

The Spurs are no strangers to having a player willing and able to stop LeBron James. Kawhi Leonard won Finals MVP in 2014 largely for shutting down James, and in the 2013 Finals, a clip of James’ visible displeasure at Leonard checking into the game went viral.

Duke, Cissoko Shine in G League Game

If Sochan can hang his hat on Kawhi Leonard-quality defense, then all the misplaced criticisms surrounding his offense can certainly be taken back. The NBA is very much dominated by offensive-minded superstars, and having a scrappy, physical defender willing to get under All-Stars’ skins is a must when it comes to building a winning roster.