Rookie Carter Bryant is looking forward to facing his former Spur, Sochan, soon but it is the lasting memories as teammates that he holds close.
SAN ANTONIO — It did not come as much of a surprise when the San Antonio Spurs waived Jeremy Sochan after the NBA Trade Deadline.
The signs of his declining status became evident when he was removed from Mitch Johnson’s rotation. His playing time dropped significantly, the team decided not to extend his contract before the season began, and he was reportedly informed that he and his representatives could begin exploring trade options ahead of the deadline.
After reaching a release agreement, Sochan signed with the Knicks. The Spurs will reunite with him this Sunday, March 1, at Madison Square Garden during the Rodeo Road Trip.
And looking forward to seeing his former teammate, rookie Carter Bryant.
“We can have some extra adrenaline for that game, so that’ll be fun,” he said.
If Sochan does play, you can expect some intense competition among former teammates on the court. But aside from the looming competition, Bryant misses Sochan’s presence and the impact he had on him as a teammate.
“He’s just dope. He’s such a good soul,” he said. “Jeremy’s such a good dude, and you just hope for the best and wish everybody the best opportunity. Jeremy is going to be just fine. He’s a hell of a player. He works his tail off.”
For Bryant, it wasn’t just about what Sochan assisted him with, whether it was navigating the league or adapting to the Spurs.
What the rookie forward remembers best about having Sochan as a teammate are the off-the-court moments.
“I used to go into his house. We used to all hang out with my best friends and his best friends. Just grabbing dinner at each other’s houses, being able to just hang out, have fun, playing (video) games with them,” Bryant said.
Although he fell out of the rotation, Sochan stayed professional, cheered on his teammates from the bench, and continued to enjoy the company of his Spurs teammates in the locker room.
Coach Johnson even complimented Sochan on his professionalism and readiness to play if needed before the team waived him.
During Sochan’s time with the Spurs, things did not go as hoped. The experiment to utilize him as a point guard did not succeed, and his inconsistency as an outside shooter hindered the team’s ability to stretch the floor. Meanwhile, Bryant showed considerable potential. It became clear that it was time for Sochan to move on and thrive in a different environment.
Hopefully, for Sochan, that will be in New York, and Bryant is thankful for the time he spent with the former Spur during his rookie season.
“I was grateful to be a part of his journey,” Bryant said.