San Antonio Spurs Forward Jeremy Sochan Should Learn From Denver Nuggets Star

The San Antonio Spurs have their core solidified. With tutelage from Chris Paul, rookie guard Stephon Castle is expected to be a keystone player, and Devin Vassell's growth on both ends of the ball has made him a valuable piece. At the center of it all, of course, is Victor Wembanyama.

A constant wildcard, Jeremy Sochan is also a key part of the core moving forward, although his role is less established. An excellent defender, his offense leaves a lot to be desired, although a lot of that is the result of environment, not his own talent.

Sochan is an excellent on-ball defender who is not above getting under the skin of his opponents, which has made him a fan-favorite. However, his offensive numbers have prevented him from truly breaking out, although that should change, albeit slowly, this season.

Last year, his 10.5 field goal attempts per game was fourth on the team. With the addition of Paul and Harrison Barnes to the starting lineup and Castle presumably playing a big role off the bench, expect Sochan to be used less as a volume scorer and more as a wildcard, which is where he excels.

Last season, Sochan and Aaron Gordon had nearly identical three-point percentages, although Sochan took 65 more shots from deep. Both the Spurs and Denver Nuggets have a dominating center, so expect Sochan and Gordon to eventually play similar roles.

Jermey Sochan and Aaron Gordon's Shot Charts

Much like Gordon, Sochan is a lot more efficient closer to the basket, although he often settles for shots further away. With the addition of two pass-first guards in Castle and Paul, and with the spacing added by Paul and Barnes, expect Sochan to occupy spaces where his offense can flourish.

That said, unlike Gordon, who will likely remain Denver's fourth scorer this season, Sochan's volume will take a dip as Castle, Barnes, and Paul join the fray.

Related: NBA Media Expects Victor Wembanyama to Own the League

That's a good thing, as Sochan is best used as an occasional offensive weapon that makes everyone around him better. He will certainly remain a top defender, but his offensive game needs to be addressed.