Jeremy Sochan may have had the toughest job with the San Antonio Spurs this season.
Any player on the NBA’s youngest roster will deal with their own struggles, and that’s to be expected. Consistently facing experienced players tends to result in losses, as evidenced by the Spurs finishing this season with just 22 wins.
But more than a struggle based on age, Sochan says, did Experience — The power forward also had to deal with playing out of position for much of the season. It was one of many storylines for Spurs as they tried to get around Victor Wembaneyama, and Sochan was left in a field of frustration despite admitting it was better that way.
“I feel like my role this year was to do whatever was asked of me,” Sochan explained during postseason media availability. “You know what? Try it.”
When that meant playing point guard and bringing the ball up the court on nearly every possession, he did it. That’s what he did when he returned to his main position. That was his mindset heading into the season, especially knowing how much he could learn from Gregg Popovich, and it paid off for the entire team.
“I learned a lot from that,” he said. “There were some positives and some negatives, but in the end there was growth. As the season progressed, we not only grew as individuals but as a team.”
March 12, 2024. San Antonio, Texas, USA. San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembaneyama (1) reacts with Jeremy Sochan (10) and Devin Vassell (24).
Scott Wachter-USA TODAY Sports
He was right. Spurs started off as a pretty disastrous season, not knowing how to play together with Wenbanyama, but they were able to turn around and end the season on a hopeful note. San Antonio started to be competitive and operate as a team.
This was a dramatic change, and Sochan played a key role.
“The results weren’t (great), but at the end of the day, what we’re looking for is growth,” Sochan reiterated. “That’s what will lead us to victory.”
The growth of a 22-win team may not seem like much from the outside, but Sochan proved that the NBA’s youngest team has definitely made strides from starting point to finishing point. In fact, his emphasis on this word became a personal point of this season.
“I learned a lot (this season),” Sochan said. “The coaches believed in me and the players believed in me, so in the end it worked out and I learned a lot of little things.”
Socchan has always had a cheerful personality. On the court, with his colorful hair, and off the court, as a familiar face on the Spurs’ social media and NBA-wide events, he’s well-suited to be one of the league’s young stars. There is. But it’s not just him.
Sochan may have had the hardest job at Spurs this season, but each player showed their skills in different ways. They all grew up together.
“When we were together, you know, we were just hanging out in locker rooms, on airplanes, at dinners,” Sochan said. “I think it helped build relationships.”
Growth will therefore once again be at the forefront with a cohesive unit ready to tackle next season. Sochan knows that, and so does Wenbanyama and the rest of the Spurs squad. Even though he has had his fair share of struggles, he is learning every game. And every day of the offseason.
Sochan doesn’t care about the team’s ranking. He is far from that point, but instead takes a fairly optimistic and forward-looking stance regarding the state of Spurs.
And for now, that’s all they can hope for.
When asked if San Antonio was heading in the right direction heading into the offseason, Sochan declared, “100 percent.” “I think we are on the right path.
“It’s an exciting time for us. There’s a lot of energy around the organization and our players. It’s very exciting.”
