Jeremy Sochan’s op-ed highlights how Victor Wembanyama is covering up Spurs’ draft mistakes

Victor Vembanyama covers up his mistakes San Antonio Spurs teammates make on the floor. That 7-foot-5 frame erases possible easy shot attempts in the lane when opposing players get past their defenders. Off the pitch, generational talent proves even more valuable.

With Spurs’ release of Jeremy SochanThe Silver and Black no longer have any players on their roster from the 2021 and 2022 drafts. They also missed a lot on their first pick in 2019.

Thank you Jeremy pic.twitter.com/5HKRFGV60Ks

— San Antonio Spurs (@spurs) February 11, 2026

In considering options for Jeremy Sochan until the NBA trade deadlinethe organization placed him on the injury report for every game leading up to decision day. And even though the ninth overall pick in the 2022 NBA draft has been out of the rotation for most of the season, there was some expectation that the opposing Spurs would keep him on the roster after he clears on Feb. 5.

Instead, the team waived the former Baylor Bear, who appeared in 28 of their 53 games, averaging 4.1 points, 2.6 rebounds and an assist in 12.8 minutes. For three and a half seasons in the Alamo City, Sochan average 10.4 points5.6 rebounds and 2.6 assists in 25.3 minutes.

Jeremy Sochan is the Spurs’ latest draft pick to depart

Polish-American Sochan, who grew up in England, headlined the draft class that landed the Spurs three first-round picks four years ago. They took Malachi Branham at No. 20 and Blake Wesley at No. 25 that June. Last summer, both were dealt to the Washington Wizards in exchange for Kelly Olynyk. Throw in Kennedy Chandler, who the team selected in that second round but never stuck around, and the organization has nothing to show for it from that draft.

Their 2021 draft turned out to be worse. With the 12th pick that year, they swung at Josh Prim; the youngest player to attend college to play in the NBA. After a rookie year in which Primo spent most of his days with the Austin Spurs of the G League, the Alabama alum was suddenly cut by the franchise in October 2022. Shortly after, it was revealed that Primo had allegedly exposed himself to several women. There are no Spurs left from that draft, as Joe Wieskamp was fired the following summer.

The longest tenured Spur on the roster, Keldon Johnson, joined the team as the 29th overall pick in 2019. But KJ wasn’t the first player San Antonio took that summer. That honor went to Luka Šamanić at the age of 19. The project, a 6-foot-10 forward, struggled for two years with the organization and was a final cut before the 2021-22 campaign.

Among the players available when the Spurs made the aforementioned picks: Trey Murphy III, Alperen Sengun, Jalen Johnson, Jalen Williams, Walker Kessler and Jalen Duren.

The Victor Vembanyama Effect

Of course, the what-ifs also have to factor in Wembey. With guys like Murphy III, Jaylen Williams and Walker Kessler in the lineup, the Spurs probably wouldn’t be bad enough to finish tied for the second-worst record in the league in 2022-23.

Now they play sports the second best record in the Western Conference heading into the All-Star Break.

Thanks to the successful The 2024 draft that opened Castle Stephonthe second overall pick this June (it became Dylan Harper), and a few shrewd moves in the front office, San Antonio is not only a contender now, but should be for years to come.

Since the victory at Vembanyama in the 2023 NBA Draft Lottery, the rest appears to be history.