San Antonio Spurs Forward Jeremy Sochan Downplays Postgame Incident with Los Angeles Lakers’ Jarred Vanderbilt
San Antonio Spurs forward Jeremy Sochan has played down the severity of a postgame incident involving Los Angeles Lakers forward Jarred Vanderbilt, which occurred after the Spurs’ 107-91 win at Frost Bank Center on Wednesday. The incident saw Vanderbilt poke Sochan in the face with his left index finger after the buzzer, prompting a brief exchange of words between the two players.
According to Sochan, the incident may have been sparked by a comment he made to Vanderbilt during the game, which the Lakers forward took exception to. “I must’ve said something to him during the game, and maybe it wasn’t very nice,” Sochan said. “He must have taken it in the wrong way and told me to see him after the game. So, I did. And we just had a polite exchange. I was, I think, intact and very joyful and the other person wasn’t. Yeah, he just wasn’t emotionally stable in that moment. So, it’s something he has to work on. It’s just life.”
Details of the Incident
As the teams exited the court after the game, the forwards briefly exchanged words, with Spurs guard De’Aaron Fox stepping in to deescalate the situation. Fox grabbed Vanderbilt to walk him away, but the Lakers forward quickly jabbed Sochan in the face with his left index finger. Spurs forward Julian Champagnie immediately pushed Vanderbilt, while Fox remained between the players, trying to keep them separated. The Lakers’ Luka Dončić and Jaxson Hayes also stepped in to assist Fox in calming the situation as Sochan and Vanderbilt continued to trade verbal barbs.
Vanderbilt did not speak to reporters in the Lakers’ locker room after the game, while Sochan discussed the incident with reporters, downplaying its significance. Champagnie, who stepped in to help Sochan, jokingly pounded his chest in solidarity from his locker, saying “My guy.”
Game Recap
On the floor, Sochan scored six points on 2-of-2 shooting with one assist in 11 minutes, as the Spurs secured a 107-91 win over the Lakers. The performance was propelled by Keldon Johnson’s 27 points off the bench, which marked his fourth game this season with 25 points or more. Sochan was playing in just his second consecutive contest after receiving DNPs in each of San Antonio’s previous four outings.
Spurs coach Mitch Johnson praised Sochan’s performance, saying, “I thought he competed his butt off, did a great job offensively, shot the ones that came to him, and he was in rhythm, made them.” Sochan, the ninth pick of the 2022 NBA draft, has logged DNPs in eight games this season after starting in 149 contests over four seasons with the Spurs.
Sochan’s Future with the Spurs
As the NBA’s trade deadline looms, Sochan admitted he’s trying to avoid pondering a potential future that might not be in San Antonio. “When I think about my whole life, I’ve been moving all over the place. I left home at 15, and this is the first time I’ve been somewhere for more than a year since then. This is my home. I feel like I’ve put in a lot of blood and sweat here to this city,” he said. “I’m going to put all of that into wherever I am, and I’m here right now. So, I’m staying here and it’s out of my control. I feel like there’s waves. It’s up and down. There’s days where it’s sunny and then days where it’s dark. I think my career has been like that. I feel like I’ve put a lot of effort into doing the right thing, and sometimes things you can’t control happen. Some of it is positive, some negative. It’s been dark, but what can I do? I can’t control it. The most important thing is to stay in the present, and that’s what I’m doing.”
