SAN ANTONIO — After suffering a left thumb injury in November, which required surgery, San Antonio Spurs' Jeremy Sochan remains patient as his rehab continues.
"I've been wanting to play since last week," he said ahead of Friday's matchup versus the Lakers. "I still got to stay patient."
Sochan says he's still present at practices and home and road games, but the time away from the court does impact him.
"It gets boring a little bit," he said. "It's tough. Mentally, physically not playing games but I think the most important thing is we've been playing great. Just being there to support my team and still being able to work out is really good."
Sochan was having a breakout year, averaging 15.4 points per game, including 7.7 rebounds and 3.0 rebounds.
Before the injury, he had a 109.0 defensive rating, 43 steals, and 23 blocks, and his ability to defend multiple positions was key in the Spurs' hot defensive start to the season.
However, with no set date for his return, he teased he might see the court sooner than later as rehab is moving forward.
"It's going to be sooner than later," he said. "I have momentum, because I was playing physical, I was playing aggressive. It wasn't really about making shots."
Said Sochan: "It's going to be easier to get into the rotation and whatever I have to do."
The Spurs have been winning despite missing Sochan's presence and he's been excited to see the team do well as his impending return to the floor looms.
"We're locked in. We're listening to each other. We all want to grow and I think we have this mentality that we're not scared of anyone. We want to go out there, play our game, and just try to win the game."