Seventeen minutes. That’s all it took to change the young man’s fate. Just as things started to look brighter for Jeremy Sochan, after last season’s failed experiment, life took a sharp turn for the worse. His game was over before halftime. The forward sustained a thumb injury while stealing the ball from the Clippers and was immediately sidelined. The San Antonio Spurs confirmed that Sochan would need surgery to repair his thumb. Although the franchise has remained tight-lipped about his return timeline, an expert’s speculation is sure to blow their fans’ minds.

Spurs reporter Dusty Garza shared on X that he had spoken with an experienced surgical specialist who has treated injuries similar to Sochan’s for over a decade. The specialist explained, “An NBA player who suffers an injury like Jeremy Sochan’s is likely to miss 20-25 games or more, depending on the team’s schedule and the player’s progress in recovery.”

Garza also mentioned that the thumb fracture surgery could involve “Open reduction internal fixation (ORIF). This is because the fracture is more severe/unstable and requires an incision with placement of plates and screws to secure the bone.” He added that another possible option could be “Closed Reduction Percutaneous Pinning (CRPP)” where “Fracture is able to be manually reduced and stabilized using pins that are placed without making an incision. Essentially an internal cast.”

After a season of struggle in the backcourt as a point guard, Sochan had the opportunity to represent the Spurs in his natural position, as a forward. “Playing my normal position is going to be great,” the 21-year-old expressed during the Spurs’ media day. “I’m not going to be thinking as much. It’s going to be more natural. So yeah, I’m excited. Training camp is going to be fun.”

Sochan did appear more lively this season averaging 15.4 points per night for his side. His shots from the field also looked more polished and accurate (51.2%) and the 7.7 rebounds per game back up his defensive skills. However, the already weak Spurs without their HC Gregg Popovich now have to look for some other strategies as Sochan is expected to be out for quite some time.

What’s next for the Spurs without Jeremy Sochan?

Jeremy Sochan’s injury will certainly derail the Spurs’ strategy. Replacing the starter will require a collective effort from the entire team, especially given Sochan’s versatility and defensive prowess. His absence might give extra minutes to Keldon Johnson, according to ESPN.

Mitch Johnson could also rely on Devin Vassell to take on more responsibility until Sochan returns. Harrison Barnes could take a bigger role, with the veteran tasked with creating more scoring opportunities for the team. These strategic adjustments could either lead the Spurs in a new direction under the interim head coach or see them slip from their 3-4 record. Tonight’s game against the Rockets will determine whether the Spurs can withstand the blow of Sochan’s injury.

Given the expert’s option, Sochan’s tentative return date could be somewhere around late December to Early January and that’s a lot of time to miss on the court. This can significantly dictate whether that Playoff push is coming or the Spurs will get in that tank mode in the latter half of the season.