SAN ANTONIO (Feb. 8, 2024) – San Antonio Spurs forward Jeremy Sochan has been named by NBA Commissioner Adam Silver a 2024 Panini Rising Star as an injury replacement. The annual showcase, featuring a mini-tournament with four teams and three games, will air live at 8 p.m. CT on TNT on Friday, Feb. 16.
Sochan is the only player to appear in all 51 games for the Silver and Black, averaging 11.4 points, 6.2 rebounds and 3.7 assists in 29.5 minutes. The former Baylor standout is one of four forwards in team history to have 1,100+ points, 500+ rebounds and 300+ assists within their first two seasons, joining Tim Duncan, Sean Elliott and Gene Banks. In his sophomore year, Sochan scored a career-high 33 points vs. Atlanta on Nov. 30 and grabbed a career-best 16 rebounds vs. New Orleans on Feb. 2. He registered his first double-double of the season with 31 points and 14 rebounds vs. Portland on Jan. 26. This is Sochan’s second consecutive Rising Star selection. The last Spurs player selected in back-to-back years to be a Rising Star was DeJuan Blair (2010, 2011).
Sochan joins Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama who was previously named a 2024 Rising Star. They are the first teammates in franchise history who are both in their first two seasons to average at least 10 points, 5 rebounds and 3 assists. Sochan and Wembanyama are the first rookie/sophomore duo for the Spurs to average 10+ points and 5+ rebounds per game since David Robinson and Sean Elliott (1990-91).