As part of a four-part series, the Spurs rookie stands out Jeremy Sohan, will share his thoughts and experiences exclusively with Sports news.
In this post, Sochan reflects on his rookie year, gives his thoughts on this year’s March Madness and looks back on a special night in Washington.
Reflections of the new year
Only a few games left? Crazy, it all happened so fast. I still remember being nervous on Draft night and now the whole season has passed. Crazy!
I look back and just think about being in an NBA environment, where everything is great. This is a club of 450 players, where everyone is at an elite level. I experience that every day, on and off the court, with my teammates or coaches… especially having Coach Pop.
This year I’ve made strides forward that I wouldn’t have been able to make if I wasn’t at this level. It really helped me grow as a person and as a player. My condition accelerated my growth.
It was crazy to be here and experience this every day.
What makes me most proud are the steps forward the team has taken. We’re very young and I think everyone knows we wouldn’t be the best team right now. But from day one it’s been a process of trying to stay consistent and find things that can be done on and off the field. Small things that have an impact on the game, on the win and that help the team.
to be in it centers the family it helps a lot. This franchise has a rich history of winners and teams built on chemistry and experience. You feel it every day.
I recently sat down for an in-person interview Tony Parker. I have trained with Tim Duncan. Manu Ginobili He is always in the gym. These legends are always around and show how the organization works and help us grow as individuals.
In my interview with Parker, I saw his home, his lifestyle, his trophy room. It made me hungrier and more motivated to live up to our team motto. We are trying to build a foundation that has already been built years ago.
When I enter the educational facility I see it its flags five championships, with lights on them. Sometimes when it’s dark, those flags are all you see.
As a kid, that’s where you wanted to be. It makes you hungrier.
Memories of March Madness
The NCAA tournament this year was crazy. There were many surprises and the teams progressed that no one expected. Even up to the Final Four
Watching the tournament is exciting because I know the feeling of playing in March Madness. Unfortunately, we didn’t make it past the 2nd round, but even those two matches were a lot of fun.
In the Tournament every match was competitive. You have to bring your best level and if you don’t, you’re out. The March matches mean a lot, because you want to win and be there for your team, because you’ve been working with them since the previous summer.
As a team you want to be successful and individually you want to show people that you can get to the next level. March is a big month for players and students.
Baylor had a lot of talent this year, especially on the perimeter. They had guys who can play and score. I think they were a great team, but like with my team last season, the consistency wasn’t there at times and that hurt them.
When it was Baylor’s turn Creighton in the 2nd round, everyone in the locker room knew my school was going to play the other Doug McDermott’s father (Creighton coach), so everybody was talking trash to try to make this game bigger. Even Coach Pop and Brett Brown tried to help us.
it was a defeat tough on Creightonbut sometimes things don’t go our way.
As Jerome Tang He was an assistant coach with us at Baylor during my season there, it was pretty crazy to watch lead Kansas State to the Elite Eight. I talked to some of my former colleagues and we knew he would do well wherever he went because he has the heart and will to lead a project. He’s done that since he came to Kansas State.
I know how Coach Tang works. I knew he wouldn’t be afraid or ashamed to do his thing.
Of course I’m from Baylor first, but watching Coach Tang’s games made me nervous. I really wanted him to win this year, but he’ll definitely be back at this stage because of how hard he works.
Polish Heritage Night
When I learned that the Washington Wizards they would make one Polish Heritage Night, I knew there would be Poles in the party. But I didn’t know how many of them there were until I looked in a post-game section.
It was a very positive evening. Some Polish media came to talk to me before the game and the energy and vibes were great.
Is it’s exciting to have this platform and not only to play for me and my family, but also for the people in Poland and England. Be able to inspire kids to play this sport and be themselves.
The Polish Heritage Night was a great day. Especially for being able to share it with him Marcin Gortatwhich is a legend in Poland.
I always carry my heritage with me. Wherever I go, I try to find little reminders of my culture. I keep in touch with my people and represent with pride, wherever I am.
I’m just coming off my first NBA season, but I feel like I’m going to be here for a while. It’s exciting to have the opportunity raise basketball in the places I call home and become part of this culture.
It is not common for an NBA player to come from Poland or England or another European country where basketball is not the main sport. Now I have the opportunity to show the kids there that it is possible to achieve it.
As my career progresses, I will be able to do that campus and maybe open one foundation and do other little things help basketball grow in these countries.
