Jeremy Sochan drafted first by Texas Legends in NBA G League after Portland release

A No. 1 pick for a development team

The Texas Legends took Jeremy Sochan first overall in the NBA G League draft, and the club announced the pick on social media on 24 October. The 23-year-old Polish basketball player will now play in the G League, the development league that feeds the NBA. The Legends are the affiliate of the Dallas Mavericks and are based in Frisco. The G League season starts on 6 November.

Portland's release and a short Knicks stint

Portland ended its cooperation with Sochan earlier in October, after he had played four preseason games for the club. According to Polsat Sport, the team concluded he had not won over its management. He had signed a one-year deal with Portland in August, but it was non-guaranteed, meaning the club could cut him at any time without paying the salary written into it. Sochan's NBA career began with the San Antonio Spurs, who drafted him ninth and signed him to a four-year contract. The Spurs ended that deal in February 2026, and two days later he signed with the New York Knicks until the end of the 2025/26 season. He was part of the Knicks' championship team, but his contribution to the title was minimal.

Key dates in the sequence

The timeline below lists the moves covered by the reports, from the February 2026 release by San Antonio to the planned start of the G League season.

What the G League route offers

A G League draft pick does not oblige a player to compete in the league, and Sochan can still sign with clubs in Europe or Asia. Polsat Sport, citing the American journalist Michael Scotto, reports that the Polish player plans to accept the proposed terms and join the Legends. Any NBA club can negotiate with him at any stage of the season if it shows interest, so the Legends are not the only route back. The G League gives players regular minutes in games and a chance to attract scouts and general managers who look for reinforcements during the season. Polsat Sport names Fred VanVleet and Alex Caruso as players who followed a similar path.

Outlook

Until his release he was the only Polish player in the NBA, according to Interia. Reports describe the climb back to the league as difficult, with no guarantee of success. Sochan is expected to begin his G League stint once the season opens on 6 November, while he keeps the option of an NBA offer at any point.