Gregg Popovich didn't make many errors during his 29 seasons on the sidelines for the San Antonio Spurs, but his unwavering loyalty to Jeremy Sochan might have been up there.
During his 29 seasons calling the shots for the San Antonio Spurs, Gregg Popovich didn't make many mistakes. Sure, he could have left Tim Duncan on the floor in the closing minutes of Game 6 in the 2013 NBA Finals, but with five rings and more wins than anyone else, it's safe to say he made the right call more often than not.
One of his final moves as head coach was to put ultimate faith in Jeremy Sochan. Picked ninth overall in the 2022 NBA Draft, Sochan was projected to be a high-level role player who could excel on defense and do a little bit of everything on offense.
Sochan was tasked with playing all five positions and never really found a groove. Sure, he was a great defender at times, but was too limited to make much of an impact. Last season, he was cut and ended the season with the New York Knicks.
Gregg Popovich Proved Wrong By Free Agent Move
After winning a ring with the Knicks, Sochan became a free agent. In New York, he really only played garbage-time minutes and was never a part of their title-winning rotation. As such, the Knicks made no offer to bring him back.
On Saturday, he signed a one-year minimum deal with the Portland Trail Blazers. That contract is not guaranteed, and he will have to fight for a roster spot in training camp and the preseason.
Popovich's golden boy, it seems, is barley holdoing onto his NBA career.
Now, that's not to say that Sochan is a bad player. He is incredibly limited, but he is a physical force on both ends of the floor. He can rebound, defend up and down the lineup, and occupy the dunker's spot. However, he can't shoot, and his ball-handling is questionable at best.
Mitch Johnson recognized that. After he took over as interim head coach, Sochan suffered an injury and missed 13 games. He would go on to start 16 more games that season, but his role gradually shrank until he received several DNPs last season.
Popovich saw a young and confident player brimming with potential. Johnson saw a roster that was ready to win and compete, and waiting for Sochan to catch up would have been detrimental to their long-term success.
In the end, Johnson was probably rigjht.
