The NBA Finals matchup between the San Antonio Spurs and the New York Knicks is already set, but before the duel even begins, one player is already guaranteed a ring regardless of who wins the championship—Jeremy Sochan.
Back in February, the Spurs decided to waive Sochan, the forward they picked ninth overall in 2022, after receiving no solid offers during the trade deadline. The Silver and Black have found great success in drafting promising talents (i.e., Victor Wembanyama, Stephon Castle, Dylan Harper, and Carter Bryant), and they are already on the path to becoming a dominant team in the West like they once were during the 2000s and early 2010s. With the team getting revamped for a breakout 2025–26 season, the front office deemed Sochan a liability instead of an asset due to his rumored “lack” of improvement on offense.
Although the young power forward was a key rotation player in his first two years in the league, Sochan regressed and was slowly losing playing time to younger and more versatile players. The former Baylor standout played 28 games in his last stint with the Spurs and was then picked up by the Knicks later on, appearing in 16 games before his 2025–26 campaign ended.
Sochan Is Already an NBA Champion
According to NBA rules, championship rings are also awarded to players who were part of the winning team during the regular season. With both San Antonio and New York qualifying for the NBA Finals, it is clear that Sochan will be getting the hardware in June after playing for both sides this season.
Even if he does not log any minutes in the Finals, Jeremy Sochan will be brandishing a championship ring in only his fourth year in the league. Moreover, he is set to become the first Polish player to ever win an NBA championship.
Despite being on a new team, it is still evident that Sochan’s role is diminishing. From averaging more than 11 points per game in his first three years in the NBA, the 22‑year‑old athlete is now only contributing 4.0 points per game for the Knicks in the playoffs after being fielded in just five games for 4.5 minutes per contest. As of now, it is unclear if he will be getting significant playing time against his former team on the biggest stage, considering that Mitchell Robinson may miss the first few games of the Finals due to injury—or if he will stay as the last guy on the bench. Either way, he is already 100% getting that ring.
Game 1 of the NBA Finals is set for June 4, 2026, and will be held at Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, Texas.
