The Challenges Faced by Jeremy Sochan in Transitioning to Point Guard
The efforts of the San Antonio Spurs coaching staff to retrain Jeremy Sochan to serve as a point guard have yielded mixed results. The young player has shown promise in some performances, but has also had more discreet ones, which have directly impacted his mood and confidence. However, the Spurs remain committed to this experiment, and Sochan has displayed a strong willingness to learn, despite acknowledging the difficulties of this transition.
A Process of Adaptation
As a 20-year-old forward, Sochan recognizes that adapting to the new position will be a gradual process. He has sought advice from Tre Jones, the starting point guard from last season, to aid in his development.
“There have been moments where I’ve felt reluctant and thought, ‘Hey, I don’t want to do this.’ To be honest, there are times when I lack confidence,” Sochan candidly admitted to the media. “But there are also moments when we trust in ourselves and focus on working hard. Knowing that both coaches and players have faith in me truly helps.”
An Individual Approach
During this transition period, the Spurs coaching staff has not asked Sochan to study videos of other point guards. Instead, they want him to play according to his own unique characteristics, instincts, and understanding of the game.
“He doesn’t need to emulate Chris Paul or John Stockton,” stated Gregg Popovich. “He just needs to be Jeremy.”
A Popovich Experiment
Taylor Jenkins, the current coach of the Grizzlies who previously worked with Popovich in San Antonio, acknowledged that his team had thoroughly analyzed Sochan before the 2022 draft. Jenkins described Sochan as a versatile player with the ability to create plays, hence it comes as no surprise that Popovich is experimenting with him.
“When you’ve been around Pop, competing against Pop, you know he’s very open-minded and willing to try different approaches,” Jenkins explained. “He has experimented with various lineups, emphasizing the three-point shot, playing at different tempos… So, this experimentation with Sochan aligns with his coaching philosophy.”
(Cover photo by Joshua Gateley/Getty Images)