Spurs’ Jeremy Sochan Absent From Poland’s EuroBasket Exhibition Games

San Antonio Spurs rookie Jeremy Sochan has not yet played for Poland in its preparations for the upcoming EuroBasket 2022, which is scheduled to run Sept. 1-18.

Sochan, whose mother is Polish, was among 16 players named to Poland’s preliminary roster. However, he didn’t suit up in their two recent exhibition games against Ukraine and Turkey as he awaits clearance to play from the Spurs, according to Polish reporter Mateusz Ligęza.

Poland will play next on Aug. 25 in pre-qualifiers for EuroBasket 2025.

Players under contract must receive permission from their teams to participate in FIBA-sanctioned events. Miami Heat rookie Nikola Jovic and Oklahoma City Thunder forward Aleksej Pokusevski were recently denied permission by their teams to participate in the event.

Sochan first played for Poland’s junior national team in the 2019 FIBA U16 European Championship. He became the youngest to play with the senior national team in the FIBA EuroBasket qualifiers in February 2021, scoring 18 points in a win over Romania.

With training camp for most NBA teams beginning in late September, it was unclear how active Sochan would be with Poland. The national team has been in contact with the Spurs as the two sides work to develop a plan for Sochan.

The event would give Sochan the opportunity to log some playing time in a competitive environment after missing summer league. He has emerged as a key player for Poland and could play a large role with the team this year or in future events.