JeremySochan will miss EuroBasket 2025 due to a calf injury, with the San Antonio Spurs opting for caution. Poland loses its star both on and off the court, forcing coach IgorMilicic to rethink his lineup weeks before tip-off.
Credit: W. Figurski/Polish Basketball Federation
On Sunday afternoon, the Polish Basketball Association confirmed what fans feared:Jeremy Sochan will miss EuroBasket 2025 due to a calf injury.
Jeremy Sochan
Jeremy Sochan
Position: PF
Age: 22
Height: 203 cm
Weight: 104 kg
Birth place: Oklahoma, United States of America
The San Antonio Spurs forward will not recover in time for the tournament, which tips off on August 28, in what is a significant sporting and emotional loss for Poland.
The absence hurts in multiple ways. On the court, the versatile 22-year-old was expected to be a key two-way presence for coach IgorMilicić’s squad.
Off the court, he’s the marketing face of Katowice’s portion of EuroBasket— his image plastered across posters — and the biggest star in Polish basketball. His No. 10 jersey is the one most fans wear to games, and that was exactly the scene on Sunday atSpodek Arena.
A battle of medical opinions
Sochan’s injury was sustained during a recent training session, with scans revealing damage to the calf muscle near the tendon. According tosport.pl, the Polish national team’s medical staff believed proper rehab could have him ready for at least part of the tournament.
The Spurs, however, preferred a cautious approach — mindful of the recent spate of NBA Achilles tendon ruptures, injuries that can keep players out for months.
“Due to his injury, Jeremy received professional help in Poland. The cooperation with the national team staff and management has always been exemplary. However, in this situation, the best option is for Jeremy to return to San Antonio,” Spurs general manager Brian Wright said in a press release.
Sochan himself expressed his disappointment:
“I’m very disappointed, but due to a calf injury, I unfortunately won’t be able to play for Poland at EuroBasket. I’ve been working hard for this over the past few months, and the time I spent training and playing with the national team has been incredible.
Doctors predict I’ll be fully recovered by the start of training camp for the upcoming NBA season.”
Even sidelined,Sochan was the most talked-about figure on Sunday. Sitting on the bench in a visible calf brace, he handed out high fives, chatted with coaches, and stayed engaged. After the game, he was swarmed by fans chanting “Jeremy! Jeremy!” as he signed jerseys and tossed gear into the crowd.
Finding a replacement
With Sochan gone and Igor Milicic Jr. also unlikely to play due to a lingering knee injury, Poland faces a depth crisis at the high-forward position.
The only true tall wing available is 32-year-old veteran Tomasz Gielo, who plays in Spain’s top league. Options like Aleksander Dziewa or Jarosław Zyskowski are possible, but neither is a natural fit.
That has ledMilicic to experiment with a “twin towers” lineup. Against Sweden, both AleksanderBalcerowski and DominikOlejniczak shared the floor, combining effectively in the paint.Balcerowski finished with 16 points,Olejniczak with 12 and five rebounds.
Poland opens EuroBasket on August 28 against Slovenia. Before then, they will play three more friendlies: Georgia (August 14, Sosnowiec), Finland (August 17, Sosnowiec), and Finland again (August 21, Helsinki).
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