San Antonio Express-News (Sunday)
Sochan has a blast at Rising Stars
SALT LAKE CITY — Spurs rookie Jeremy Sochan was in his element, sprinting up and down the court while having fun every step of the way.
Why, he even launched a halfcourt shot to make good on a bet he placed with Houston's Jabari Smith Jr.
“You can't break a bet, especially when you shake on it,” Sochan said. “I had to do it. I should have gone with one leg, not two. But it looked straight. If I had a little more arc, it would have gone in.”
And the wager?
“If I scored it, he would have to dye his hair,” said Sochan, who arrived at All-Star Weekend sporting a fresh dye job of his own.
Team Pau, named for honorary captain and newly selected Hall of Fame finalist Pau Gasol and starring rookie of the year favorite Paolo Banchero — defeated Sochan and Team Joakim, named for honorary captain Joakim Noah, 25-20 Friday night in the final of the Rising Stars tournament.
The outcome didn't dampen Sochan's spirits.
“It was fun being with the young stars in this league,” he said.
Team Pau hit the target score on a 3-pointer by Jose Alvarado, who finished with a team-high eight points.
Quentin Grimes led Team Joakim with 14 points on the strength of 4-of-7 shooting from beyond the arc.
“He can score the ball,” Sochan said of the New York Knicks' second-year guard. “He was great.”
Sochan finished with just one point in the final. But in a game where defense was largely ignored, he had some strong moments on that end, helping hold Banchero to four points.
“He is very good, a very solid player,” Banchero said. “We have played against him a couple of times already this season. He can do everything, and he still has a lot of stuff he is going to get better at. He's going to be scary when he really develops.”
Sochan showed off his developing offensive skills and athleticism in the semifinal game.
Team Joakim advanced to the finals with a 40-32 win over the G League squad that included Scoot Henderson, the likely No. 2 pick in next summer's draft behind French phenom Victor Wembanyama.
Sochan finished with six points on 3-of-4 shooting, including a part-the-waters dunk down the lane that gave his squad a 34-29 advantage after the G Leaguers battled back from a 13-point deficit to pull within one. He also had one rebound, one assist and one steal.
“Just doing my own thing,” Sochan said. “It was cool.”
Grimes had 13 points in the semifinal game. He ended it with a pull-up 3-pointer on a two-onone break with Josh Giddey.
Sochan had his own personal cheering section in the form of his mother, brother, grandmother and other family members.
“Their support is unconditional,” he said. “They are always there for me. They don't try to pressure me into doing anything. They let me be myself.”
Sochan said he enjoyed every minute of his All-Star Weekend experience.
“From 8 o'clock this morning, we were doing stuff, with the community, with the other players, practice, media, the game,” he said. “Just being around it, the atmosphere, was great for me.”
So would he like to return as an All-Star next time?
“I feel like it is always a great achievement to have, but being on a winning team, that's when you get the All-Star appearances and the other accolades,” he said. “For me, winning is more important than being a part of this weekend. With winning, stuff like this comes.”
At least two 2023 All-Stars indicated Saturday that Sochan could wind up representing the Spurs in the elite game in the future.
"He does a lot of things,” Indiana's Tyrese Haliburton said. “He does the little things that guys don't want to do, and that's going to help separate him...He's got the 'Baby Dennis (Rodman)' thing going. It's fire. I love his style, the way he approaches the game. I like him a lot."
Said Boston's Jayson Tatum: “I like him. Long arms, very versatile, strong, you know, active. When I played against him in San Antonio, I walked away from the game thinking he is going to be really good for a long time."