The NBA Finals are set to begin Wednesday night, but one player is already assured of receiving a championship ring regardless of which team emerges victorious. New York Knicks forward Jeremy Sochan will be an NBA champion for the 2025-26 season no matter whether his current team defeats the San Antonio Spurs in the highly anticipated series.
Sochan began the season with the Spurs, the team that selected him with the ninth overall pick in the 2022 NBA Draft. He appeared in 28 games for San Antonio before the two sides mutually agreed to part ways in February after his playing time was reduced significantly. The power forward was subsequently waived.
Just two days later, Sochan signed with the Knicks and made his debut on February 19 against the Detroit Pistons. This unique situation means he will be entitled to a championship ring from either team if they win the title.
Historical Precedents
This scenario is not entirely unprecedented in professional sports. During the 2015-16 NBA season, Anderson Varejao started with the Cleveland Cavaliers but was traded to the Golden State Warriors. After the Warriors lost the Finals to Cleveland, Varejao declined a championship ring from the Cavaliers.
More recently, during the 2025 World Series, two players—Buddy Kennedy and Jose Urena—found themselves in a similar position. Both had played for both the Toronto Blue Jays and Los Angeles Dodgers during the regular season, ensuring they would receive a ring regardless of which team won the championship, even though neither was on the playoff rosters.
Sochan's Performance and Career
Since joining the Knicks, Sochan has served primarily as a role player. During the regular season, he averaged just 2.8 points per game while playing 6.9 minutes per contest. In the playoffs, he has appeared in only five games, averaging 4.6 minutes and scoring 4.0 points per appearance.
Despite his limited role this season, Sochan showed promise earlier in his career. Over his first three NBA seasons, he averaged at least 11 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 2.4 assists per game. He was also named to the 2022-23 All-Rookie Team. Born in Oklahoma, Sochan represents Poland on the international stage.
