Sochan stays – After the Knicks’ NBA championship, Jeremy Sochan kept the celebration going—still shirtless when the team returned to New York from San Antonio. The moment echoed JR Smith’s famous shirtless championship tradition while Sochan also referenced his earlier chir
Jeremy Sochan didn’t come out of the Knicks’ celebration looking any different than when it began.
On June 14, 2026, after New York’s NBA championship win, the team chose to return to New York rather than stay in San Antonio overnight. By the time they arrived back home, the wing was still shirtless—caught in the middle of the post-title momentum that has quietly become his signature.
The Knicks’ official social post showed Sochan in that unmistakable state. with New York Basketball posting an “8:25am update” from back in New York: “Jeremy Sochan 8:25am update: Back in New York. Still shirtless.” It was a follow-up to another image shared earlier that morning with the caption: “Jeremy Sochan has lost his champagne goggles.”.
For all the camera-friendly spectacle, Sochan’s season story also sits underneath the celebration. He didn’t play much during the Knicks’ championship run. but he managed to draw attention before the series even started—after being suggested as Victor Wembanyama’s former teammate who could potentially clue the Knicks into the Spurs star’s weaknesses.
That idea met its reality during Game 5. Sochan attempted to get Wembanyama off his game by chirping at him, but Wembanyama brushed him off. Sochan still got the final laugh anyway: New York won the championship.
His role in the title run was shaped by a different set of circumstances. The Knicks signed Sochan after the trade deadline when he was cut by the Spurs. who failed to find a suitable deal. After that move. his playing time and role diminished during the season after he had been a reliable double-digit scorer in his first three seasons in the league.
Even with that shift, Sochan still appeared for the Knicks in 16 regular-season games and eight playoff games following the signing.
And the shirtless celebrations now carry a familiar thread through NBA history. Former NBA player JR Smith became synonymous with celebrating NBA championships while shirtless—first during the Cleveland Cavaliers’ 2016 title win and then again during the Los Angeles Lakers’ 2020 championship run. Now, with Sochan still shirtless back in New York, the Knicks’ newest chapter looks ready to join that tradition.
Jeremy Sochan New York Knicks NBA championship JR Smith Victor Wembanyama Spurs San Antonio June 14 2026 Game 5