San Antonio Spurs Coach Gregg Popovich Talks Jeremy Sochan at Point Guard: 'Not Going to Be Chris Paul'
The San Antonio Spurs have continued their experiment of having Jeremy Sochan operate as the point guard in a starting lineup that also features Victor Wembanyama, Zach Collins, Keldon Johnson and Devin Vassell (when healthy).
And while it's still anyone's guess if coach Gregg Popovich and staff will continue this for the entire season, he likes the learning process that Sochan is going through.
“It's been five or six games, and he's not going to be Chris Paul in six games," Popovich said. "He's learning a lot, and he likes the challenge. Every game is an education for him at both ends of the floor. He's probably a little bit ahead defensively right now, but offense against that pressure is tough. We knew they'd come back in the second half with that kind of pressure. But over time, hopefully we'll handle that better.”
Gregg Popovich (left) and Jeremy Sochan
© Zachary BonDurant, USA TODAY
Sochan wasn't drafted to be a guard, but certainly has the ability to play that point-forward role, something he showed flashes of during his rookie year last season.
He displayed this ability once again in San Antonio's 132-121 win over the Phoenix Suns on Nov. 2. He was key as a scorer down the stretch of that game before finishing with 14 points, but it was his nine assists that stood out.
Sochan is now averaging 5.2 assists through six games this season, which is currently second on the team behind only Tre Jones (6.2 assists).
Sochan will look to keep things rolling when the Spurs (3-3) take on the Indiana Pacers (3-3) at 6 p.m. CT on Monday.
