San Antonio Spurs Season Preview: How Does Jeremy Sochan Channel Unpredictable Energy?
In an era of what the San Antonio Spurs have deemed "positionless basketball," Jeremy Sochan is blazing his own trail.
As far as talent goes, the second-year forward fits the bill. He's versatile on offense, explosive near the rim and fortified on defense. He's got the personality to match, too.
But out of all of the words you could use to describe Sochan, Spurs coach Gregg Popovich might use a five-syllable one: unpredictable.
"You don't know what he's going to do exactly," he said of Sochan. "But he throws it out there, he competes. ... He's a rebounder. He's a defender. And he's not afraid to make mistakes."
Oct 18, 2023; San Antonio, Texas, USA; Houston Rockets center Jock Landale (11) and San Antonio Spurs forward Jeremy Sochan (10) look for a rebound in the first half at the Frost Bank Center.
© Daniel Dunn-USA TODAY Sports
As unguessable as Sochan's game is, however, is expected role with the Spurs is as well, if not more. Because of his two-way flexibility, San Antonio can plug him in as a primary defender, but also a primary ball handler — his most recent on-court venture.
Becoming a "point guard" hasn't come without struggles however, which Sochan says he and his teammates have been working on throughout preseason and before.
"I haven't played for seven months," Sochan said. "A lot of us haven't played for that long, so we're getting back into the rhythm. We're growing as a team and as individuals."
Last season, Sochan averaged 11 points, 5.3 rebounds and 2.5 assists in 56 games — the latter stat a byproduct of a knee injury the forward sustained in the back half of the season. But when he was on the court, his energy was unquestioned.
That energy has since changed, according to the Spurs forward, but in a good way.
"There's been a different kind of energy," Sochan said during San Antonio's annual media day. "Everyone wants to come back. Everyone wants to learn. That's an exciting thing to have as a young team."
So, the Spurs have the energy. They have the youth, and the new leadership, as well. All of that combined makes for a bright roster and an even brighter future, especially with a personality like Sochan's and a talent like No. 1 pick Victor Wembanyama.
Sochan playing point guard as one of the Spurs' "big" starters is just one way that the forward has found his role so far in San Antonio.
Popovich can be thanked for the rest of those ways.
"Coming in, I was an open book," Sochan said. "I listened to everything he said and just wanted to learn and grow. He helped with that. I feel like we made a connection not only on the court, but off the court, too."
Sochan is ready to lead, ready to learn and ready to play scot-free in his second year, which bodes well for the Spurs. He might be unpredictable, but that might not be a bad thing in the regular season.
He is their starting point guard, after all.
