Jeremy Sochan’s standing in advanced statistics demonstrates his invincibility.
As far as untouchable players go on the Spurs roster, most people seem to believe there’s only one player on that list: Victor Wembanyama. Ordinarily, they would be right, but if they found out that one of the youngest players on the team is already one of the league’s best wing defenders, they might change their mind. That’s the case for the one-hand free-throw man himself, Jeremy Sochan, making him an invaluable piece of San Antonio’s puzzle—one they can’t afford to be without.
Sochan’s production is about more than just the numbers on a stat sheet
The Polish Prince is a menace on the defensive side of the ball. He takes pride in it, and it shows by the relentless effort he plays with on the court. The league is filled with elite ball handlers and shot creators, so it’s important to have someone who can disrupt their game. Victor Wembanyama is a generational defensive player, but he can’t do it by himself. Having someone like Sochan next to him makes his job that much easier on that side of the floor.
The former Baylor Bear brings a lot more than scoring to the table. Sure, it would be nice if he could score 20 points per game, but that’s the case for any player. It’s just not realistic. Not every player is going to have a smooth jumper and nail their threes at a 40% clip. That doesn’t mean there isn’t an important place for you on an NBA roster.
You rarely get the combination of an elite defender and a superior scorer rolled into one athlete. Those are the all-time great players like Paul George or San Antonio’s favorite villain, Kawhi Leonard. Admittedly, his three-point shot does need to improve and he knows that. There’s no doubt he’s been working to make it a reliable weapon. If he can raise his shooting percentage to around the league average, that will suffice.
Teams are going to attempt to smother Wemby, and if Sochan is on the floor, fans know who they’ll opt to leave open. He has to make them pay for making those decisions, but don’t let an offensive-centric focus undercut his importance on the defensive side of the ball. He’s tough, selfless and works hard to defend the league’s best players and does a damn good job of it. That guy isn’t going anywhere, nor should he.
