San Antonio Spurs' Jeremy Sochan on Playing Point Guard: 'We'll See!'
No one quite knows what the starting lineup will look like for the San Antonio Spurs on opening night at home against the Dallas Mavericks. Preseason will give us some indication, but with coach Gregg Popovich, you just never know.
While there's some easy choices to start like Devin Vassell, Jeremy Sochan, Victor Wembanyama and Zach Collins it's not a complete guarantee that Pop starts Keldon Johnson or Tre Jones in the first game. With a projected starting lineup likely being filled out by the first four names and then Johnson, there's then the question of who starts at point guard in a lineup that's long and versatile.
Could Sochan be the answer? He was asked about this at Spurs Media Days on Monday.
San Antonio Spurs forward Jeremy Sochan (No. 10) dribbles the ball against Houston Rockets guard Jalen Gree (No. 4).
© Troy Taormina, USA TODAY
"I think I would be comfortable (playing at the 1). I think it would be an experiment. There's gonna be days where it looks beautiful and there's gonna be days where it's like 'Oh! I don't know about that!'" Sochan said, which earned a collective laugh from the media in attendance.
"But at the end of the day, I have a growth mindset, and I feel like it's a position that I could excel in and help the team. I think it's gonna be a lot of fun if that happens. We'll see."
It might not seem obvious to the casual NBA fan that glossed over the 22-60 Spurs of last season, but Sochan might be the most suited of the bunch to begin taking on a longer-standing role of handling the ball and initiating the offense. As a rookie last season, he did this on a few occasions and looked mostly comfortable doing so. His 2.5 assists per game won't tell you the whole story on the potential he showed both as a ball handler and play-maker for his teammates.
Fans will still have to wait and see what transpires in the backcourt when the Spurs host the Mavs in the season opener on Wednesday, Oct. 25.
