An injury setback for Portland Trail Blazers guard Shaedon Sharpe has paved the way for Jeremy Sochan of the San Antonio Spurs to step onto the court for the 2024 NBA Rising Stars Game during the All-Star Weekend.
The NBA disclosed on Tuesday that Sochan would fill in for Sharpe on Jalen Rose’s squad.
The announcement came via NBA Communications, stating, “San Antonio Spurs forward Jeremy Sochan will replace injured Portland Trail Blazers guard Shaedon Sharpe on Team Jalen in the 2024 Panini Rising Stars, which will take place on Friday, Feb. 16 at 9 p.m. ET on TNT.”
San Antonio Spurs forward Jeremy Sochan will replace injured Portland Trail Blazers guard Shaedon Sharpe on Team Jalen in the 2024 Panini Rising Stars, which will take place on Friday, Feb. 16 at 9 p.m. ET on TNT. pic.twitter.com/51XGeNu5VA
— NBA Communications (@NBAPR) February 8, 2024
Sharpe has been sidelined since January 11 due to a lower abdominal strain. The Blazers revealed on Tuesday that his condition worsened while he was increasing his basketball-related activities, necessitating surgery for a core muscle injury.
The surgery is tentatively scheduled for later this week, with Sharpe’s return contingent upon his recovery post-procedure.
The NBA had unveiled the pool of players for the Rising Stars Game on January 30, with Sharpe listed among the sophomore participants, alongside fellow second-year guards Jaden Ivey, Dyson Daniels, and Bennedict Mathurin.
During the team selection process on Tuesday, honorary coaches Pau Gasol, Tamika Catchings, and Jalen Rose drafted their squads, with Sharpe being chosen in the fourth round by Rose.
Sochan now joins Victor Wembanyama as the second Spurs player in the game, with Wembanyama initially included in the roster and selected as the top overall pick by Gasol’s team.
Selected ninth overall in the 2022 NBA draft, Sochan has been enjoying a productive season for the Spurs, averaging 11.4 points on 43.9 percent shooting, 6.2 rebounds, and 3.7 assists per game across 51 appearances.
The Rising Stars event features four teams competing in a mini-tournament format, with the fourth team comprising G League players and coached by Detlef Schrempf.
Two semifinal games will precede the championship matchup, with each contest played to a target score.
All the action is scheduled to unfold on February 16 at 9 p.m. ET at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.
