Victor Wembanyama’s Ex-Teammate Helps Knicks With Key Intel on Spurs Star Before NBA Finals

The New York Knicks might have the answer to dealing with Victor Wembanyama. So far, the San Antonio Spurs superstar has looked nearly unstoppable. He's had a few struggles here and there, but for the most part, he has been hard to contain.

Jeremy Sochan, Wembanyama's former teammate at Spurs who joined New York ahead of the 2026 trade deadline, is not intending to hold out on providing key intel regarding the San Antonio side.

He has insider information on just about everyone on the Spurs. However, his focus was specifically on Wembanyama, who averaged 28 points and 11 rebounds per game in the Western Conference Finals against the Thunder. In an article for the New York Post, Jared Schwartz quoted the Polish-American forward as saying he will do everything to help the Knicks.

"Whether I'm playing or not, it's important to feed all information I have," Sochan said. "And I think I know quite a lot."

Sochan divulged specific information on how to defend Wembanyama, highlighting tactics that a few teams have already tried.

"Being that tall, he gets tired," Sochan said. "Give him different looks and (not beat him up but) be very physical, and make him run. And he's gonna get tired, he's gonna have to take some plays off in my opinion."

Physicality was already something the Thunder tried with Wemby. They often matched Isaiah Hartenstein up on him, who was not shy about getting rough. OKC also tried to throw different looks his way. Sometimes, he was guarded by Alex Caruso or Luguentz Dort.

There were times when these tactics seemed to work, but there were also times when Wemby seemed comfortable enough to still maximize his impact. All in all, the OKC Thunder did not have enough to put a leash on Wembanyama, who has led the Spurs to their first Finals appearance since 2014.

Whether the Knicks will be able to deal with Wembanyama by taking Sochan's words to heart remains to be seen. While the two are now rivals in the NBA Finals, they also seem to share a great deal of respect for one another's game.

Victor Wembanyama and Jeremy Sochan Have Complimented Each Other Before

Jeremy Sochan was drafted at No. 9 just a year before Victor Wembanyama arrived as one of the most hyped No. 1 picks in recent history. And as soon as the Frenchman landed in San Antonio, one of the first people to welcome him was Sochan.

However, their history goes back even before they were on the Spurs. Before they were in the NBA, the two had already played against one another. They faced off in 2018 during the Lion Cup, a basketball tournament in Europe.

The familiarity between the two is evident, and they developed a friendship as teammates. In fact, Wemby, a fan of French club Paris Saint-Germain, admitted that they often discussed football, while also taking a friendly jab at Sochan for being an Arsenal supporter.

Beyond that friendship, the two also have respect for one another's game. In his rookie year, Wemby said the Spurs wanted to put players they could trust. Afterward, he applauded then-head coach Gregg Popovich's decision to insert Sochan into the starting lineup.

"We wanted to put players he can trust to give 100% on the court. I appreciate also that he put Jeremy (Sochan) in the starting lineup," Wembanyama said in an interview from January 2024.

On another occasion, Wemby complimented his former teammate's energy and selflessness, saying he enjoyed playing with him. "He's just a guy who's energy always goes in the right direction. His will to sacrifice for the team is always up. It's a pleasure to share the court with him."

Meanwhile, Sochan served as a mentor for Wemby. Despite being drafted just a year before the French star, he took him under his wing. While Wemby was playing in the 2024 Summer League, Sochan imparted some wisdom to him. "You're human", he told the Frenchman, reminding him that he had the luxury of learning from his mistakes.

Sochan later highlighted that Wemby had extraordinary talent but also did the hard work.

It will be interesting to see whether Sochan gets a chance to suit up against Wemby in the Finals this year. He's only suited up in five games for the Knicks in the playoffs this year, and those were non-crucial minutes.

Even if he doesn't step on the court, though, the insight he provides against his former team might be just as valuable as any stat he could contribute on the court.