Spurs Coach Gregg Popovich left open the possibility that Jeremy Sochan could remain sidelined for the remainder of the season.
Jeremy Sochan had recently showcased strong performances, including what might have been his best-ever game in the NBA, before exiting Friday’s San Antonio Spurs victory in the second quarter due to an injury described by the team as left ankle soreness. Ahead of Sunday’s matchup against the Golden State Warriors, a game Sochan ultimately missed, coach Gregg Popovich didn’t dismiss the possibility that the ninth-overall pick of the 2022 draft could be sidelined for the remainder of the season.
“I have no idea,” responded the NBA’s longest-tenured coach when asked about the likelihood of Sochan missing the Spurs’ remaining seven games.
The Spurs suffered a 117-113 loss to the Warriors on Sunday, marking the first game this season that Jeremy Sochan did not participate in.
“He’s been there for, what, 74 games in a row. Even if he would be out for the rest of the season, that’s ninety percent availability. That’s huge,” commented Spurs star Victor Wembanyama.
Popovich added that he wasn’t prepared to provide a definitive statement regarding the status of the former Baylor Bear until the medical team had thoroughly assessed the situation.
“Whatever the doctors tell me when they all look at the pictures, that’s when I’ll know something but I’m not going to guess.”
The second-year forward has been averaging 11.6 points, 6.4 rebounds, and 3.4 assists in 29.6 minutes per game, showing improvements across all statistical categories compared to last year. As a rookie, he was selected as a Rising Star and averaged 11 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 2.5 assists in 26 minutes over 56 games.
This season, he earned a spot in the Rising Stars game as an injury replacement. Last Monday, he contributed 26 points and a career-high 18 rebounds while also providing a defensive challenge to Kevin Durant in a Spurs victory. Wembanyama, also a 2024 NBA Rising Star, highlighted Sochan’s importance after Sunday’s loss, which ended the team’s first three-game winning streak of the season.
“He has played so many crucial minutes for us, doing all the dirty work and the tough jobs,” Wembanyama remarked. “He has just been such a valuable asset for us on both ends of the court. It was evident in the last game against New York as well. I think Jeremy’s presence would have made a difference in the second half considering Brunson’s performance. He’s invaluable to us. I hope he recovers as quickly as possible.”
