When the San Antonio Spurs selected Baylor forward Jeremy Sochan with the 9th overall pick in the 2022 NBA Draft, they knew they were getting a versatile defender with tremendous upside.
However, few could have predicted just how quickly Sochan would develop into a core piece for the rebuilding Spurs.
Now in his second NBA season, the 20-year-old Sochan has taken a monumental leap, solidifying himself as one of the Spurs‘ foundational players alongside #1 overall pick Victor Wembanyama.
Sochan‘s across-the-board improvements have him looking like a cornerstone for San Antonio moving forward.
Early Season Struggles at Point Guard
The Spurs thrust Sochan into the starting point guard role to open the 2023-24 season, an experiment that yielded mixed results.
While Sochan displayed encouraging playmaking instincts, his shaky handle and perimeter shooting resulted in inefficient offense.
Over the first month, Sochan averaged a respectable 10.2 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 4.1 assists per game.
However, he shot just 36.8% from the field and 23.5% from three on 2.9 attempts per game.
By early December, with the Spurs owning the NBA’s least efficient offense, head coach Gregg Popovich pulled the plug on Sochan‘s point guard trial.
Taking Off in His Natural Forward Role
Upon returning to his natural frontcourt role, Sochan thrived with increased spacing and freedom to exploit favorable matchups. Over his last 20 games, Sochan has posted huge numbers:
- 15.4 points per game on 49% shooting
- 7.8 rebounds per game
- 3.8 assists per game
Sochan has terrorized defenses with aggressive drives to the rim.
He’s also drilled 38% of his threes during this hot stretch. With polished footwork beyond his years, Sochan leverages his blend of power and coordination to pour in buckets from all levels.
Emergence as Two-Way Threat
While Sochan’s offensive growth has rightfully drawn attention, he’s remained an impact defender, a skill that first put him on draft boards.
Sochan boasts the strength to battle bigs down low, the instincts to jump passing lanes for steals, and the agility to stick with wings on the perimeter.
Over the past month, the ultra-versatile Sochan has frequently guarded All-Star talents like LeBron James, Jayson Tatum, Pascal Siakam, and Zion Williamson.
Gregg Popovich regularly trusts the youngster with San Antonio‘s toughest defensive assignments – a responsibility Sochan continues to handle admirably.
Historic Sophomore Production
After 51 games, Sochan‘s two-way excellence has him averaging 11.4 points, 6.0 rebounds, 3.5 assists, and 1.2 steals per contest – highly impressive marks for a second-year forward.
Sochan joins Spurs legends Tim Duncan, Sean Elliot, and Gene Banks as the only forwards in franchise history with 1,100+ points, 500+ rebounds, and 300+ assists within their first two NBA seasons.
Advanced metrics paint Sochan in an even more favorable light. He boasts a 17.7 Player Efficiency Rating and the league’s 7th-best Defensive Real Plus-Minus among power forwards – indicating genuine star potential as he continues maturing.
Personality of a Veteran
Since entering the league, Sochan hasn’t held back his on-court competitiveness even when battling established stars.
After the recent Spurs vs. Rockets matchup, in which, Sochan got physical with Amen Thomspon, he showed his confidence by blowing a kiss to him.
He also got under the skin of LeBron fans by posting his controversial opinions on King’s game.
One thing besides great defense about Jeremy is that he is not afraid of any challenge or confrontation.
An underrated trait, especially for a 20-year-old.
His fearlessness is what sets him apart from other players and shows that he will be a great leader in the future.
Earning Second Rising Stars Spot
Given Sochan‘s monster development curve and steadiness on both ends, many viewed him as a lock to earn the Rising Stars selection during the 2024 All-Star Weekend before the rosters were announced.
When the NBA revealed their choices without including Sochan, fans, and pundits were befuddled.
Gregg Popovich passionately defended his blossoming standout’s credentials after the revealing:
“I don’t know who chooses these things or what the criteria are or anything like that but he’s been great for us. He’s been a two-way player, which are very far and few between in this league. He’s played well at the defensive end, the offensive end. He’s really grown. I think he should be there.”
Fortunately, when Portland‘s Shaedon Sharpe later withdrew due to injury, Commissioner Adam Silver tabbed Sochan as his replacement.
While the initial snub was unwarranted, Sochan ultimately landed Rising Stars honors befitting his stellar sophomore campaign.
Flourishing Alongside Victor Wembanyama
While Sochan has thrived individually, he’s formed perhaps an even better tandem with Spurs sensation Victor Wembanyama.
The duo averages nearly 40 combined points, 16 rebounds and 7 assists nightly – production unseen from a San Antonio rookie and sophomore since David Robinson and Sean Elliot.
Sochan‘s shot creation and Wembanyama’s elite spacing have proven symbiotic.
Opponents struggle to contain Sochan‘s drives without doubling and leaving the sharpshooting Wembanyama open.
Simultaneously, Wembanyama‘s gravitational pull clears driving lanes for Sochan to attack weaker defenders.
Wembanyama garners more fanfare as the NBA’s next generational big, but Sochan‘samplified play has arguably been just as integral toward restoring San Antonio‘s winning ways ahead of schedule.
With both thriving, the Spurs own one of basketball’s most promising young foundations.
Future Outlook
Jeremy Sochan‘s development from a raw athlete into a multidimensional force has breathed new life into the Spurs‘ rebuild.
Still somehow just 20 years of age, Sochan possesses substantial room for improvement as he gains experience.
If Sochan continues refining his offensive skills, specifically his outside shooting and ball handling, it’s easy to envision him blossoming into a perennial All-Star down the road.
Paired with the unicorn Wembanyama, Sochan has San Antonio positioned faster than anticipated to rejoin the Western Conference’s elite.
For an organization starting largely from scratch after the Kawhi Leonard trade, unearthing two potential superstars in consecutive drafts is a GM dream scenario.
Thanks to Sochan‘s seismic sophomore leap, that best-case vision is hurtling toward reality in San Antonio.
Sources:
clutchpoints.com/spurs-jeremy-sochans-potential-hits-new-high-latest-all-star-weekend-nod
www.foxsports.com/nba/jeremy-sochan-player
spurswire.usatoday.com/2024/02/02/san-antonio-spurs-gregg-popovich-jeremy-sochan-furiously-defends-nba-rising-stars-snub/
