'Watch Out For The Monster!' San Antonio Spurs' Jeremy Sochan Sounds Off At Media Day
If it were up to Jeremy Sochan, the entire San Antonio Spurs roster would have dyed hair.
It's one of the things that's set the rising Polish star apart from the other rookies in his class. That, and his eccentric personality, which his teammates would all attest to. But even if opening night doesn't feature multiple Sochan-style hairdos, there will still be something noticeably unique about this season's Spurs beyond the addition of Victor Wembanyama.
"There's been a different kind of energy," Sochan said during San Antonio's annual media day. "Everyone wants to come back. Everyone wants to learn. That's an exciting thing to have as a young team."
Currently, the Spurs have a roster featuring just two players north of 30 years old. If it holds, it'll make them one of the youngest teams in the league — and that's before the final roster cut, which will more than likely see veteran center Khem Birch exit San Antonio. Despite their youth, however, Sochan says his team is ready to compete and already has been putting in offseason work.
"We've had a bunch of little mini camps," Sochan said. "We've been in the gym. Sometimes the whole team is here — that's a rare thing in the NBA."
The Spurs are rare, especially with a 7-4 power forward at the center of their franchise. But so is Sochan, who's more than excited to kick things off this season.
San Antonio Spurs Victor Wembanyama and Jeremy Sochan
© Scott Wachter-USA TODAY Sports
"I've been trying to develop my whole game," Sochan explained. "My body, [too]. My shot. Just a mixture of stuff, and also developing team [chemistry]."
Coming in as a returning player has its perks, too. Sochan is no longer new to the NBA, nor the Spurs' training regime and the little things that could potentially distract a first-year player in the league.
But he's also not new to Gregg Popovich's coaching style.
"It was fun for me," Sochan said of his veteran coach with a smile. "I remember before the season, everyone was like: 'Watch out, this monster is going to eat you,' and this and that, but it was great. He's a legend.
"Coming in, I was an open book. I listened to everything he said and just wanted to learn and grow. He helped with that. I feel like we made a connection not only on the court, but off the court, too."
Sochan may have just been in San Antonio for a little over a year, but he's already been learning the ropes, though that doesn't help with overcoming the shock factor surrounding Wembanyama and his capabilities — even as his teammate.
"I think he's just a freak of nature," Sochan said, laughing as if remembering all of the abnormal displays of athleticism he'd watched his young teammate do. "It's not a normal thing to see someone that tall move like that."
Whether it's Wembanyama blocking a shot "out of nowhere" or dunking the ball "from some weird place," the rookie is set to put on a show, and he has Sochan's full support.
"He's going to prove to people that he's special," Sochan said.
Wembanyama will be a big addition for San Antonio this season both on and off the court — the latter of which he's continually proven — but it isn't just him that's caused Sochan's confidence, which says enough on its own.
The entire roster may not enter Frost Bank Center on opening night with dyed hair like Sochan, though the tactic might through off Luka Doncic's Mavs, but they will hit the court ready to make a statement. As a budding leader in his second season, Sochan is ready, confident and motivated. And he's out to prove it.
"I think we can be really good," Sochan said. "We've been practicing the whole summer. We're ready. We're excited. Hopefully we're all injury-free and healthy every game. We'll see what happens, but we're going into the season with a mentality to win."
