San Antonio Spurs forward Jeremy Sochan will be sidelined indefinitely after fracturing his left thumb, the team announced on Tuesday.
Sochan suffered the injury during their game against the Los Angeles Clippers on Monday night and will undergo surgery later this week. It is uncertain how long he will be out of action.
Selected with the No. 9 overall pick in the 2022 draft, Sochan has been off to a strong start this season, averaging career-highs in points and rebounds. He had a standout performance with a double-double in their recent win over the Minnesota Timberwolves.
In addition to Sochan’s injury, the Spurs are also missing head coach Gregg Popovich, who is currently out due to health concerns. Assistant coach Mitch Johnson is serving as the interim coach in Popovich’s absence.
“[Popovich has] been tremendous for me personally, and right now his health is the No. 1 priority,” Johnson said. “We support him in that 100% and I talked to him last night. He’s in good spirits. He’s OK, and we can’t wait to have him back.”
Despite these challenges, the Spurs are focused on their upcoming games and will face the Houston Rockets next before beginning a homestand at the Frost Bank Center.