Sochan told Polish media that he wasted no time in contacting the new veterans in the squad.
SAN ANTONIO — As the San Antonio Spurs look to improve and emerge from a rebuild, forward Jeremy Sochan is looking forward to the new season, in part because of the new faces on the roster.
“It’s exciting to start a new season,” Sochan told the Polish media outlet Flashscore“We have new faces, rookies, veterans, winners who will help us grow.”
Those new faces include rookies Stephon Castle and Harrison Ingram, who will look to make an impact on the Spurs as they navigate and learn the NBA landscape.
However, the new veterans – Chris Paul and Harrison Barnes – will likely make an immediate impact, and Sochan has wasted no time connecting with his new teammates and is eager to get on the field with them.
“I got in touch with Chris Paul when I was in Europe and I also spoke to Harrison Barnes. They’re good guys and great players so I’m looking forward to working with them and getting ready for the season,” he said.
The Spurs’ new season looks set to be much better, after a 22-win 2023-24 season.
And Sochan arrives rested and healthy after ankle surgery last season.
“During my recovery from ankle arthroscopy, I had a plan for every week of the summer. Before joining the Polish national team and after, I trained individually all the time,” he told Polish website Flashpoint. “I worked with different coaches, including those I know from England. It was also good to see friends and family again. You need to recharge your batteries and mentally rejuvenate.”
Heading into his third year, Sochan feels he has a lot to prove. He told Hero magazine that he is setting the bar higher.
“I feel good. I’m excited. This will be my third year and I feel like I have a lot to show,”
Besides a failed experiment at point guard last season, Sochan’s areas for improvement start with his three-point shooting.
In the NBA, spacing is necessary, especially for Victor Wembanyama to operate.
Last season, Sochan shot 31 percent from three-point range, a marked improvement over his rookie season (25 percent), but he still needs to improve as he heads into his third year.
His shooting percentage could also be improved. Last season, he made 41% of his shots, a figure down from his rookie season (46%).
Defensively, he remains one of the best defenders in the squad.
Among sophomores last season, he ranked fourth in deflections (1.8), second in contested shots (4.3) and third in contested three-pointers (2.7).
Of course, the improvement will make Sochan a more valuable player, and the additions of Paul and Barnes will help him and the Spurs rack up wins in the new season.
“I think our team does that too. We have some older players who I think will help us, [and we need to] “Evolve and continue to win,” he said.
Overall, the future of the Spurs looks bright. Whether collectively or individually, the team may be in a rebuilding phase, but little by little, the goal of becoming a team that has won all along is getting closer.
“You know, build that winning culture,” Sochan said.
