San Antonio Spurs forward Jeremy Sochan drew the ire of NBA fans for one vexing sequence involving rookie Victor Wembanyama during the team’s 114—95 loss to the Chicago Bulls on Thursday night at the United Center.
During a possession in the third quarter, Sochan had the ball at the top of the key just as Wembanyama, who was in the left corner, cut to the hoop for a wide-open look at the basket. But Sochan, who appeared to be looking right at the 7’4” center, somehow missed him and chose to drive into the paint, where he attempted—and air-balled—an awkward fadeaway jumper from about 10 feet.
Bro saw Wemby open at the rim and does THIS 💀 pic.twitter.com/92EIzmN7pk
— BrickMuse (@BrickMuse) December 22, 2023
NBA fans roasted Sochan on social media.
I'm convinced everyone on that team hates Wemby
— Nesra (@Nesrason) December 22, 2023
I was at the game, they weren’t hitting him at all in the paint all game. That ball wasn’t going to go to him anyways.
— BullsMuse (@BullsMuse_) December 22, 2023
Victor: “Guys I’m 7’4 and right under the basket pass me the ball!”
— Wemby Central (@WembyCentral) December 22, 2023
Jeremy Sochan: pic.twitter.com/3vfTwomSKe
he’s trying to win the ricky davis award on that team https://t.co/29K0j27FGx
— bomani (@bomani_jones) December 22, 2023
That wasn’t the only time that Sochan missed Wembanyama, as he had a chance to pass to the French big man coming off of a screen in the fourth quarter. Instead, Sochan passed the ball back out to the wing, only for the ball to eventually end up back in Wembanyama’s hands anyway.
Wembanyama noticed, and he walked up to Sochan and seemed to tell his teammate that he “missed” the play. Even the Bulls announcer on the call pointed out that it seemed like Sochan was “ignoring” Wembanyama.
One account on X, formerly Twitter, perfectly summed up Sochan—and the Spurs’ inability to get the ball to Wembanyama.
Wembanyama was prepared for NBA defenses but bro stands no chance against these 2 'Wemby Stoppers' pic.twitter.com/3yvwSCugz8
— NBA Memes (@NBAMemes) December 22, 2023
Little did Spurs fans know that the best players equipped to slow down their talented rookie are purportedly on San Antonio’s roster. But in all seriousness, the Spurs will have to hope that Sochan and his teammates can do a better job of getting the ball into Wembanyama’s hands moving forward.
