Julian Champagnie has been all smiles and effort for Spurs since the start of the season.
The rise of Julian Champagnie has been one of the most unexpected at the start of the 2024-25 NBA season.
The winger in his third season was expected to fight for a role in the Spurs’ rotation this season, but he took the next step. Champagnie has turned heads with his play while holding a starting role, and while he’s not the team’s key player on offense, his contributions on both ends of the court have been vital for a team San Antonio which is 11-9 at the end of the quarter of the regular season.
The 23-year-old winger has averaged just 19.8 minutes per game in 2023-24. The team looked to bolster its depth by adding Harrison Barnes in the offseason. Instead, Champagnie, an undrafted St. John’s product, is having a breakout year in his third season in the Association. Injuries to players like Keldon Johnson and Devin Vassell have allowed Champagnie to play a larger role than expected in 2024-25, but the winger has risen to the occasion and found a way to stay in the lineup even in the scenarios where Spurs are almost at full strength.
The figures confirm Champagnie’s exceptional year. In 2023-24, he averaged 6.8 points, 2.8 rebounds, 1.4 assists and 0.6 steals in 19.8 minutes per game, while starting in 59 of his 74 season appearances regular.
A few months later, the third-year forward plays 29.5 minutes per game in 2024-25, averaging 12.0 points, 5.3 rebounds, 1.7 assists and 1.0 steals per game, and he started in each of Spurs’ 20 matches. He’s posting the best results of his career in all areas, but the improvements don’t stop there. Champagnie is also more confident in his shooting, with 43.6% success from the field, which is an improvement from the 40.8% he posted in his sophomore year.
Spurs interim coach Mitch Johnson seems to like what Champagnie brings on both ends of the floor. Additionally, having him in the lineup provides a little more balance in the rotation, as it allows Vassell and Johnson, two players who could start for the Spurs, to come off the bench. Champagnie’s length defensively is also an asset, as the Spurs can play aggressively with Champagnie, Barnes, Stephon Castle and Victor Wembanyama on the court simultaneously.
The winger earned his place in the starting team thanks to his excellent play in what is for him the best season of his career.
