As the New York Knicks and the San Antonio Spurs prepare to face off in the 2026 NBA Finals, one player will receive a ring no matter which team comes out on top.
Jeremy Sochan started the season with the Spurs and then joined the Knicks midseason, and he’s now helping prepare New York to take down his former team.
Jeremy Sochan May Be Knicks’ X-Factor Against His Former Team in NBA Finals
After spending the first five years of his NBA career with the Spurs, Sochan was waived in February and signed with the Knicks shortly after.
Sochan developed a close friendship with Victor Wembanyama during their time together in San Antonio. Now, the 23-year-old is trying to give the Knicks as much information as possible that New York can look to exploit against Wemby and the Spurs.
“Whether I’m playing or not, it’s important to feed all the information I have. And I think I know quite a lot,” Sochan told the NY Post.
For example, Sochan explained how the Knicks can attack Wembanyama.
“Being that tall, he gets tired… Give him different looks and (not beat him up but) be very physical, and make him run. And he’s gonna get tired, he’s gonna have to take some plays off in my opinion,” Sochan said.
While Sochan has only played in five games during these playoffs so far, he has stepped up when his number is called. He scored 10 points in just 3 minutes during the Knicks’ Game 5 win over the Atlanta Hawks in the first round, and he is averaging 4.0 points and 1.0 rebounds in 4.6 minutes per game.
Before joining the Knicks, Sochan had a storied journey to the NBA. He discovered his love for basketball while living in the United Kingdom, and he had a dominant freshman year with Baylor before being drafted by the Spurs as the No. 9 overall pick in the 2022 NBA Draft.
Sochan enjoyed a memorable spell in San Antonio before parting ways with the franchise in February 2026. He suited up for the Spurs in 28 games this season before joining the Knicks, so he could earn a ring this summer even if the Knicks lose in the NBA Finals.
Teams decide which players are awarded rings, and players who were traded or waived midseason often receive one for their regular-season contributions. While Sochan will likely get a ring regardless of the outcome, he will try to do everything in his power to make sure his ring comes from the Knicks instead of the Spurs.
