The San Antonio Spurs are ready to break through. Victor Wembanyama looks like a superstar, Stephon Castle and Dylan Harper both impressed in the preseason, and De’Aaron Fox should hit his stride this season.
On top of that, the Spurs quietly boast one of the best supporting casts in the NBA. Keldon Johnson and Devin Vassell are proven role-players. Harrison Barnes is an elite veteran leader. Luke Kornet and Kelly Olynyk provide much-needed frontcourt depth.
In addition to the usual suspects, the Spurs have an undrafted free agent on the roster who slots into his role perfectly. Julian Champagnie is under contract for the next two seasons for a total of only $6 million.
GettyATLANTA, GEORGIA – FEBRUARY 05: Trae Young #11 of the Atlanta Hawks drives against Victor Wembanyama #1 and Julian Champagnie #30 of the San Antonio Spurs during the second quarter at State Farm Arena on February 05, 2025 in Atlanta, Georgia. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
San Antonio Spurs Boast Ideal Role Player
It can’t all be about the stars. After going undrafted in 2022, Champagnie signed a two-way deal with the Philadelphia 76ers, but was soon waived. The Spurs picked him up, and his reliable shooting quickly made him a long-term piece.
Last season, he appeared in all 82 games, averaging 9.9 points and 3.9 rebounds while shooting 37.1% from deep.
“Julian Champagnie, I think people can probably start to figure out the type of players I really like,” prefaced Bryce Simon on The Game Theory podcast. “AJ Green, Julian Champagnie, Sam Merrill, these guys that can really shoot it, but also defend a little bit, and will rebound. I think that’s a guy that makes a lot of sense for this roster in terms of just providing floor spacing and being low maintenance, needing the ball or anything else.”
Champagnie is seemingly the perfect floor-spacer next to non-shooters like Harper and Castle. In the preseason, Wembanyama found him in the corner multiple times for easy buckets, and he is continuing to improve rapidly.
In five preseason games, Champagnie averaged 13.6 points while shooting a whopping 63.3% from deep. The Spurs went undefeated.
Outlining Julian Champagnie’s Value to the Spurs
The stats speak for themselves: Champagnie is a proven, reliable shooter on one of the best value contracts in the NBA. After his contract expires in the summer of 2027, the Spurs will have to open their wallet to keep him, as demand for the swingman will be high.
By then, Johnson, Olynyk, and Barnes will be off the books, although the Spurs will have to extend Wembanyama, Castle, and Jeremy Sochan. His salary will go up from $3 million per year, although the Spurs will be motivated to keep him.
Champagnie is younger than highly-touted youngsters like Coby White, Trey Murphy III, Ja Morant, and Walker Kessler, to name a few.
After going undrafted in 2022, he boasts the 16th-best VORP and 18th-best box plus/minus in the class, despite playing for a mostly-bad Spurs team.
San Antonio is defined by its stars. Champagnie is flying under the radar, but he’s exactly the player a winning team needs.
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