Welcome to Pounding the Rock’s 2023-24 participant opinions! The sequence will take a look at the 15 gamers who completed the season with the San Antonio Spurs on assured contracts (so no two-way gamers as a result of we noticed so little of them this 12 months, and no Doug McDermott). Take pleasure in!
Jeremy Sochan
2023-24 stats: 74 video games, 11.6 factors, 6.4 rebounds, 3.4 assists, 43.8percentFG
Contract Standing: 2 12 months, $12.6 million remaining
Age: 20
This 12 months was practically two utterly totally different seasons for Jeremy Sochan. There was the primary 25 video games the place Sochan was the topic of a degree guard experiment by the San Antonio Spurs teaching workers. Then got here the remainder of the season when he was allowed to play his pure place off the ball. These first 25 video games weren’t fairly, as Sochan struggled mightily with lead ball-handler duties. Defenses stress him full court docket and dared him to make performs within the decide and roll. The outcomes have been excessive turnover nights and uneven offensive performances throughout.
“There have been moments the place it’s like, ‘Yo, I don’t need to.’ It’s like, ‘f— this s—.’ I’m going to be trustworthy,” Sochan mentioned mid-season. “There have been moments the place there isn’t confidence. However there are moments of being assured and simply working. Understanding the belief I’ve from the coaches and gamers, it helps.”
Gregg Popovich and his workers wished Sochan to develop extra on-ball abilities. If nothing else, the staff discovered what Sochan’s limits are as a main ball-handler. When the Spurs inserted Tre Jones into the beginning lineup and moved Sochan off the ball, the offense began to enhance with an actual flooring normal on the court docket. As soon as that change was made, Sochan began to make strides as an off-ball cutter, utilizing Victor Wembanyama’s gravity to search out straightforward seems within the openings on the ground.
Sochan improved as a three-point shooter this season. He shot 30.8% from deep on 3.4 makes an attempt per recreation. Whereas he’s definitely not a sharpshooter, his willingness to take pictures from deep and sometimes make the protection pay for sagging off him was an enormous growth from his rookie season. Sochan has an awesome motor, averaging practically 2 offensive rebounds per recreation. He generates pictures across the rim along with his athleticism and vitality. He was simply okay at ending these seems within the paint, making 65.9% of his makes an attempt on the rim.
The most important growth for Sochan got here on the defensive finish. Sochan stepped right into a “stopper” position, being requested to protect the opposing staff’s greatest perimeter participant, nightly. He posted a 1.9 defensive win share in 2023-24. With Wembanyama locking down the paint, Sochan did an admirable job stepping as much as make it troublesome for opposing scorers.
Wanting ahead
Sochan had an up and down season offensively. For each 20+ level explosion got here a single-digit affair. He had a scorching capturing stretch from November to January, however was chilly the remainder of the season. With a view to be part of the Spurs long-term plans, Sochan has to discover a constant offensive position. Whether or not that’s turning into a good shooter who can house the ground, or a savvy cutter and finisher who can play off of Wembanyama. Bettering in these areas will likely be very important to his long-term growth.
Fortunately, we all know Sochan is continually within the gymnasium with Spurs capturing coach, Jimmy Barron. Getting a full summer season to work with Barron may do wonders for his shot. It already improved incrementally from his rookie to sophomore season. Sochan looks like a no-drama, team-friendly participant who will purchase into what the workers desires him to do (the purpose guard experiment is proof of that.) That ought to give Spurs followers some hope that he can develop right into a key participant subsequent to Wembanyama.
Buying extra flooring spacers this offseason may assist Sochan’s offensive recreation. Final season groups weren’t overly involved with guarding the Spurs on the perimeter, as an alternative sending a number of defenders at Wembanyama inside. The paint clogged up and gamers like Sochan struggled to make an influence. As soon as San Antonio begins to stretch the protection out, guys like Sochan and Wembanyama will discover extra success on the inside.
Sochan will likely be extension eligible in in two seasons. As of proper now, it’s arduous to think about the Spurs would provide him the max rookie-scale extension they gave Devin Vassell final offseason. These subsequent two years will likely be essential to Sochan’s future with the staff. Making strides on the offensive finish ought to assist Sochan earn his second contract and result in extra wins for the Spurs.
High efficiency
March twenty fifth vs. Phoenix Suns: 26 factors, 18 rebounds in 104-102 win
Last grade: B-
Up subsequent: Devin Vassell
Earlier Opinions:
Sidy Cissoko
Charles Bassey
Devonte’ Graham
Dominick Barlow
Sandro Mamukelashvili
Blake Wesley
Cedi Osman
Julian Champagnie
Zach Collins
Malaki Branham
Keldon Johnson
Tre Jones
