The New York Knicks headed into the NBA All-Star break on a hot streak by winning 10 of their last 12 games before the midseason classic. They also gave themselves a boost by adding a young player who has plenty of promise and could help solidify their chances of winning it all.
Jeremy Sochan, a 22-year-old forward who was the No. 9 pick in the 2022 draft, was released by the San Antonio Spurs last Wednesday. While he had played a key role for the Spurs in his first three seasons, this season his playing time was drastically cut as coach Mitch Johnson opted to move him down the depth chart in favor of other players. In 28 games with them this season, he played just 12.8 minutes per game after logging 27.3 minutes per game during the prior three seasons.
Per SportsNet New York, Sochan said at his introductory press conference that he chose to join the Knicks off the buyout market because he thinks highly of their roster and front office (h/t Fadeaway World).
“New York was always at the top. I really had refreshing and really good conversations with the organization, the front office, and the coach. I was always excited about this opportunity.”
“One of the reasons why I picked New York is it’s a very deep roster with a lot of really talented players,” Sochan added. “But I think it’s a pretty cool opportunity to watch and grow from that, too. I still think I’m young, so being around players that have established themselves and done a lot in this league is a crazy opportunity for me.”
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New York had lacked frontcourt depth this season, but now, it will have a very intriguing depth piece in Sochan, who can not only produce but also perhaps supply the team with qualities it has lacked.
The 6-foot-8, 230-pound forward is known as an energetic and effective defender who can comfortably guard players at multiple positions. He can also make an impact on the boards and had a career average of 5.6 rebounds in 25.3 minutes a game coming into Thursday.
While he isn’t exactly a 3-point shooting threat, he does have a lifetime average of 10.4 points a game on 46.8% field-goal shooting, and he can finish strong at the rim.
Sochan is someone who can potentially match up defensively against Eastern Conference stars such as the Detroit Pistons’ Cade Cunningham and Jaylen Brown of the Boston Celtics, especially come playoff time. He will also give the Knicks some insurance in case starting forwards Mikal Bridges and OG Anunoby go down with an injury. Anunoby had missed their previous four games before the All-Star break with a toe injury, and he was out for nine games earlier in the season due to a hamstring strain.
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Sochan’s first game with his new team didn’t go very well on Thursday. The Knicks faced off against the Pistons, who have the NBA’s best record, and lost, 126-111. Cunningham went off for 42 points and 13 assists, while Sochan played just 10 minutes and finished with two points, one assist, one steal and one block.
But the opportunity is still there for the Knicks, who are 35-21 and in third place in the Eastern Conference, to overtake the Celtics for second place in the coming weeks. If they do that, and especially if they are to reach the NBA Finals, let alone win their first world championship since 1973, Sochan will have play a key role.
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