Paris – 31.05.2026: Jeremy Sochan, the 22-year-old Polish forward of the New York Knicks, is in an extraordinary position. Before the start of the NBA Finals 2026 on June 3, it is already established that Sochan will receive a championship ring, regardless of whether the title is won by the New York Knicks or the San Antonio Spurs. This special situation has been made possible thanks to the unusual development of the player’s season.
At the beginning of the current season, Sochan was part of the San Antonio Spurs roster, for whom he played 28 games. In February 2026, the player was released by the Spurs. After the All-Star break, Sochan joined the New York Knicks, with whom he played another 16 games, thus contributing to the team’s successful season.
In the NBA, it is customary for players who participated in the regular season for a team, regardless of whether or not they are part of the roster in the playoffs, to receive a championship ring if that team wins the title. This tradition honors the contributions of all players who collaborated during the successful season. Since Sochan played this season for both finalist teams, he is entitled to receive a championship ring from both teams, an unprecedented case in the NBA.
If the Knicks win the championship, Sochan would be the first Polish NBA champion. Since joining New York, he has played five playoff games, averaging 4.0 points and 1.0 rebounds per game.
The 2026 NBA Finals between the New York Knicks and the San Antonio Spurs begin on June 3. The series can extend up to seven games with venues in San Antonio and New York. Regardless of the outcome, Jeremy Sochan will be recorded as a winner in the NBA history books, a remarkable circumstance reflecting his extraordinary season.
However, this rule also raises questions about how a player’s contribution to the championship is evaluated when he has changed teams during the season. For Sochan, this situation is unprecedented so far and represents a personal success that will likely further boost his career.
The particularity of Sochan’s case also reflects the flexible and dynamic nature of NBA teams during the season, where transfers and player changes in modern professional sports are not rare. This example shows how these circumstances can affect awards and recognitions, even beyond playing time.