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Karl-Anthony Towns is in his second season with the New York Knicks.
The New York Knicks have yet to officially debut Jeremy Sochan, but his impending arrival is already generating reaction inside the locker room.
Shortly after Sochan shared a social media post signaling his move to New York, Knicks All-Star center Karl-Anthony Towns responded with a brief message that quickly gained traction among fans:
“No way this how I find out 😂😂😂”
The comment, posted in reaction to Sochan’s rain-soaked Times Square video set to Jay-Z’s Empire State of Mind, reflected both surprise and humor as the Knicks’ newest addition announced himself to the fan base before ever suiting up.
Sochan Set to Join Knicks After Spurs Release
ESPN’s Shams Charania reported earlier that Sochan plans to sign with the Knicks after clearing waivers, choosing New York over nine other interested teams.
“Sochan will sign a rest-of-season deal and give the Knicks a young, athletic wing with versatility and size,” Charania reported. “He averaged 10.4 points, 5.6 rebounds and 25.3 minutes across 212 games for the Spurs and was a two-time Rising Stars participant as a rookie and sophomore.”
The move followed a turbulent final stretch in San Antonio, where Sochan was removed from the regular rotation and later requested a trade. When no deal materialized before the deadline, the Spurs agreed to release the former No. 9 overall pick.
Teammates Weigh In as Knicks Culture Takes Shape
Towns’ reaction was not the only one from within the Knicks’ locker room.
Veteran forward Josh Hart also responded to Sochan’s post with a lighthearted three-word response:
“Oh hell no…”
Hart’s comment was widely interpreted as playful, consistent with his role as an emotional tone-setter and vocal leader on a Knicks team that has embraced a demanding, no-frills identity.
Together, the reactions from Towns and Hart underscored how quickly Sochan’s arrival registered internally and how seamlessly it fit into a locker room known for its edge and accountability.
Fresh Start Follows Difficult End in San Antonio
For Sochan, the enthusiastic — and humorous — reception marks a sharp contrast from the end of his time with the San Antonio Spurs.
In January, he acknowledged the challenges of being removed from the rotation after spending the first four years of his career in San Antonio.
“I’m not going to lie to you and say it was rainbows and sunshine all day,” Sochan told reporters at the time. “There’s been moments where it’s very hard. I’ve been in the league for four years and this is kind of the first time where this has happened to me.”
He framed the experience as part of a broader journey shaped by constant adaptation after leaving home at age 15 to pursue basketball opportunities.
“Even if you can’t see the light,” Sochan said, “if you keep working and put your efforts and your mind in the right place, you’re always going to find it somewhere.”
Knicks Depth Creates Opportunity — and Competition
Sochan now joins a Knicks roster built on defensive versatility and depth, with postseason ambitions firmly in place.
With OG Anunoby recently sidelined and younger players such as Mohamed Diawara earning expanded opportunities, Sochan could have a path to minutes, though competition remains intense.
For now, his arrival has already done something meaningful.
Before playing a single minute in a Knicks uniform, Sochan has drawn reactions from teammates, energized fans, and added another layer of personality to a locker room that thrives on edge.
And as Towns’ reaction made clear, sometimes the first introduction comes not in practice — but on social media.
Alder Almo is a sports journalist covering the NBA for Heavy.com. He has more than 20 years of experience in local and international media, including broadcast, print and digital. He previously covered the Knicks for Empire Sports Media and the NBA for Off the Glass. Alder is from the Philippines and is now based in Jersey City, New Jersey. More about Alder Almo
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