The San Antonio Spurs defeated the Brooklyn Nets on Tuesday, and they got plenty of help from 19-year-old forward Jeremy Sochan in the process.
You may know Sochan as the Spurs rookie with the colorful hair who is shooting one-handed free-throws like Dennis Rodman, but he is so much more than that. Sochan is shooting with increased confidence of late, and he showed as much in San Antonio’s upset victory over Brooklyn.
During the first half, Nets veteran Markieff Morris said Sochan made a 3-pointer and then pointed at the Brooklyn forward. The two players were then seen “jawing at each other” before becoming entangled with one another after Morris set a hard screen.
Markieff Morris: "He actually did like a wrestling move on me. I said that's impressive, I told him. It was impressive because he used a lot of force & he kind of flipped me. He got me.”
Jeremy Sochan: "Just being a little cheeky is something I do."pic.twitter.com/Ky9Px6X9Bj
— Ballislife.com (@Ballislife) January 18, 2023
They then briefly squared up before the parties were separated. Morris said Sochan used a “wrestling move” on him to flip him and he thought that it was impressive.
Sochan said that “being a little cheeky” is something that he loves to do. Before the 2022 NBA Draft, Sochan told For The Win that he wants to get players off rhythm, and it seems he did as much with Morris.
“I’m trying to be that disruptive player like Draymond Green, Patrick Beverley, and Jae Crowder. They all have one thing in common and it’s being irritating. Being long and athletic and disruptive, that’s what I try to show in my game and my defense. It helps to get some players off rhythm. I just try to execute that as well.”
After the game, Spurs coach Gregg Popovich was asked if he liked Sochan’s feistiness. Popovich said Sochan has some “nastiness” in him, which he said is necessary for a good team.
Sochan finished the game against Brooklyn with an impressive stat line of 16 points (2-3 3P), 4 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals, and 2 blocks.
