Jeremy Sochan shocked nobody when his scoring plummeted to 4.1 PPG this season. The San Antonio Spurs fourth-year forward watched his role evaporate during 2025-26. Here’s exactly why the promising talent fell out of the rotation entirely.
🔥 Quick Facts
- 2025-26 Scoring: Career-low 4.1 points per game across 28 games
- Playing Time Decimated: Just 12.8 minutes per game, less than half his previous average
- Role Lost To Two Players: Harrison Barnes took offensive duties while Julian Champagnie dominated defensive assignments
- Modern NBA Problem: 28.7% career three-point shooter with minimal drive frequency
The Shooting Problem That Doomed His Season
World Baseball Classic 2026 bracket revealed: which teams advance and when to watch
World Cup 2026: three teams set to inherit Iran’s qualification spot
Jeremy Sochan never mastered the jump shot during his four-year NBA tenure. His 28.7% three-point percentage signals teams that leaving him open on the perimeter costs nothing. San Antonio watched opponents salivate at this weakness. In today’s NBA, forwards must space the floor. Sochan simply couldn’t deliver.
This season, his 25.7% three-point accuracy proved even worse. The Spurs rotation rapidly shifted toward players who could actually stretch defenses. Champagnie’s arrival accelerated Sochan’s exit from meaningful minutes.
Playing Time Bottleneck and Rotation Shifts
Caitlin Clark powers Team USA to dominant win over Senegal in FIBA World Cup qualifier opener
USA moves into WBC quarterfinals after Italy stuns Mexico
Coach Mitch Johnson faced limited options at forward. Rather than force Sochan into a role where he couldn’t thrive, San Antonio gradually benched him in favor of more versatile contributors. Sochan averaged 12.8 minutes per game, down from his historical baseline of over 27 minutes. The message was unmistakable: this rotation simply had no space for him.
Most damning were his DNP-CDs (Did Not Play, Coach’s Decision) reaching career highs. He didn’t just lose playing time. He lost it completely on many nights.
Jeremy Sochan’s 2025-26 Performance Snapshot
| Stat Category | Value |
| Points Per Game | 4.1 (career low) |
| Rebounds Per Game | 2.6 |
| Field Goal Percentage | 47.5% |
| Three-Point Percentage | 25.7% |
| Free Throw Percentage | 68.8% (career high) |
“Sochan is a strong rebounder and good defensive forward, but his impact in either of these categories has not been large enough to warrant the Spurs playing him over guys who tout more balance on both sides of the ball.”
— Mat Issa, Forbes NBA Contributor
The Modern NBA Archetype Sochan Simply Doesn’t Fit
Today’s NBA demands one of three core qualities: elite shooting, perimeter creation, or rim-running size. Sochan offers none convincingly. His 1.3 drives per game demonstrates zero offensive aggression. His three-point range remains unreliable. He’s neither tall nor strong enough for consistent five-spot minutes. San Antonio realized this mismatch. Keeping Sochan on the active roster while benching him served no strategic purpose. On February 11, the Spurs made the business decision to waive him.
Teams need players who create value. Sochan’s athleticism impressed scouts at the draft. Reality proved far different across four seasons.
What Comes Next for Jeremy Sochan Now That He’s Free?
Jeremy Sochan enters free agency at just 22 years old, still young enough to reinvent his game. Some contenders may view him as a buyout market gamble. Younger franchises could develop his attacking skills further. His motor remains excellent, and his athletic explosion hasn’t diminished. But the clock is ticking for him to become a reliable NBA rotation piece. Will a team bite on what San Antonio surrendered?
The Spurs decided the answer was no. Soon, we’ll see if anyone else disagrees with that assessment.
Michael Brown is a seasoned sports journalist bringing years of experience covering professional athletics and sporting culture. With a keen eye for breaking stories and player dynamics, this veteran journalist delivers in-depth analysis and exclusive insights from the world’s biggest sporting events. His passion for the game shines through in every story, keeping fans connected to the action both on and off the field.