Spurs once again turn the outcast into a strong NBA player

Julian Champagnie has been a real godsend for Spurs since his debut in silver and black in the 2022/23 season. After playing college ball at St. John’s, Champagnie went undrafted but signed with the Philadelphia 76ers in July 2022. After playing just seven minutes in two contests, the 76ers deemed Champagnie unworthy enough to pass on him.

After averaging 19.5 points per game throughout the Big East conference, the Spurs saw the potential Champagnie had and acquired Julian in 2023 when Philly let him go.

After performing well in a limited capacity for San Antonio and seeing the potential they saw in him, Champagnie was rewarded with a long-term contract, earning $12 million over four years to stay in San Antonio remain.

Champagnie has done nothing but reinforce the investment the Spurs have made in him of late. He is shooting an excellent 38.9% from distance this season. He’s made 12 of his last 24 threes, and his journey should remind fans of fellow New Yorker Danny Green, who went through something similar when he was released from Cleveland before finding a home in San Antonio.

In a balanced win against Portland, Champagnie’s 14 points ranked second on the team. He hit 4 of 8 from 3-point land, added six rebounds and dished out two assists.

Although the season is still young, Julian is showing his value to this team. The long winger can act as both a guard and a forward and can guard any outside position on the defensive. So far this season he is averaging over five rebounds per night (5.2) and almost one steal per game (0.8).

He is firmly established in the starting lineup and has started every game this season. He has also achieved significant improvements in offensive metrics such as shooting percentage compared to last season. He’s done this while attempting more three-pointers than last year, so his offensive responsibilities haven’t gotten any easier.

Defensively, he is averaging over two more rebounds per game than he did last season. Champagnie familiarizes himself with his role in the silver and black uniform.

The Spurs have an uncanny ability to develop players who were once considered unplayable by other teams. They did it over and over again. Their latest DIY project is showing great results so far and the return on investment they’re getting makes them look like geniuses once again.

However, this would not be possible without the effort and desire to improve that Champagnie has shown the Spurs nation. After being ignored by a rival, Champagnie has emerged as an important player for the emerging Spurs team, and like the team, he has not yet reached his highest potential.