Spurs' Julian Champagnie: Logs 13 points during victory
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Champagnie ended with 13 points (5-12 FG, 3-8 3Pt), six rebounds and one assist in 27 minutes during Monday's 116-96 win over the Kings.
Champagnie has successfully held off Devin Vassell for the first-unit role for now, but he could fade into the woodwork once Vassell's minutes ramp back up. Champagnie could conceivably take Harrison Barnes' current spot, and the situation should crystallize more in the coming weeks.
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Spurs' Julian Champagnie: Goes for 21 points Monday
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Champagnie accumulated 21 points (7-12 FG, 5-10 3Pt, 2-3 FT), five rebounds and two assists across 38 minutes during Monday's 113-104 loss to the Clippers.
Champagnie posted his best scoring output of the season Monday. It was his first double-digit scoring effort since Oct. 26. Champagnie should remain in the starting lineup until Devin Vassell (foot) is cleared to return, but the former's upside will be reduced considerably once he returns to a bench role.
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Spurs' Julian Champagnie: Racks up three steals Thursday
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Champagnie supplied six points (3-7 FG, 0-1 3Pt), six rebounds, three steals and two assists across 25 minutes during Thursday's 106-88 win over the Jazz.
Champagnie was fairly quiet from the field Thursday, though he was able to stuff the stat sheet and grab a season-high three steals in the win. The 23-year-old was impressive in the Spurs' first two regular-season games, but across the last three, he has averaged only 4.7 points and 4.7 rebounds while shooting 31.6 percent across 24.3 minutes per game.
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Spurs' Julian Champagnie: Starting in season opener Thursday
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Champagnie is in the starting lineup for Thursday's game against the Mavericks, Jeff McDonald of the San Antonio Express-News reports.
Champagnie has impressed head coach Gregg Popovich enough to get a start in the season opener. He'll run with the first unit alongside Chris Paul, Harrison Barnes, Jeremy Sochan and Victor Wembanyama. Champagnie beat Malaki Branham and Stephon Castle for the starting nod.
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Spurs' Julian Champagnie: Draws start vs. OKC
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Champagnie is starting Monday's preseason game against the Thunder.
Devin Vassell (foot) is set to be re-evaluated Nov. 1, so even though Monday is the preseason opener, this will be a golden opportunity for Champagnie to show that he belongs with the first unit. He should see plenty of minutes with Vassell ruled out and Chris Paul (rest) getting the night off.
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Spurs' Julian Champagnie: Season-high numbers in 2OT loss
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Champagnie closed Sunday's 133-126 double-overtime loss to the 76ers with 17 points (5-10 FG, 3-6 3Pt, 4-5 FT), eight rebounds, three assists and two steals over 40 minutes.
The 17 points tied his season high, while Champagnie's eight boards represented his best effort on the glass since he closed the 2022-23 campaign with a double-double. The second-year forward is putting together a solid finish to the season, and he's scored in double digits in five of the last six games, averaging 13.5 points, 5.3 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 2.3 threes, 1.0 steals and 1.0 blocks.
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Spurs' Julian Champagnie: Heads to locker room
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Champagnie went to the locker room in the second quarter of Sunday's game against the 76ers due to an apparent laceration on his head, Jeff McDonald of the San Antonio Express-News reports.
Champagnie was inadvertently head-butted by Keldon Johnson in the second quarter, and Champagnie had to go to the locker room to address an apparent laceration. It's unclear whether the 22-year-old will be able to return down the stretch, but he'll presumably also be tested for a concussion before being cleared to return.
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Spurs' Julian Champagnie: Fills stat sheet Friday
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Champagnie chipped in 15 points (6-11 FG, 2-7 3Pt, 1-1 FT), four rebounds, four assists, four blocks and one steal in 38 minutes during Friday's 111-109 victory over the Pelicans.
Champagnie has established himself as a regular starter for the rebuilding Spurs. While he regularly operates as a secondary alternative in the offensive scheme, it seems he's ending the season on a solid note. Champagnie has scored in double digits in four of his last five outings, averaging 12.8 points per game and shooting 47.1 percent from the field in that span.
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Spurs' Julian Champagnie: Set to play against Houston
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Champagnie (ankle) is available for Tuesday's game versus the Rockets, Paul Garcia of ProjectSpurs.com reports.
Champagnie has been upgraded from questionable to available Tuesday after missing the Spurs' previous contest with a right ankle sprain. The 22-year-old forward will reclaim his starting spot from Malaki Branham against Houston.
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Spurs' Julian Champagnie: Out Sunday with ankle sprain
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Champagnie won't play Sunday against the Pacers due to a right ankle sprain.
Champagnie suffered the injury in Thursday's 132-118 win over the Thunder and is considered day-to-day. The second-year wing has started in each of the Spurs' last 33 games, but he's averaging just 19.5 minutes per contest and merely serves as a placeholder on the top unit for the spot that used to belong to Keldon Johnson, who has been serving as San Antonio's sixth man. Whomever replaces Champagnie in the starting five Sunday may not be in store for meaningful run.
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Spurs' Julian Champagnie: Looking good from beyond arc
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Champagnie supplied 12 points (3-4 FG, 3-3 3Pt, 3-3 FT), two rebounds and one assist across 15 minutes during Monday's 133-123 loss to Philadelphia.
The 22-year-old forward is beginning to get comfortable in a secondary role for the Spurs. Champagnie has drained at least one three-pointer in seven straight games, tying his career-long streak, and during that time, he's averaged 10.1 points, 3.4 boards, 2.3 threes and 1.4 assists while shooting 48.5 percent (16-for-33) from beyond the arc.
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Spurs' Julian Champagnie: Failing to capitalize
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Champagnie closed Saturday's 122-116 loss to Chicago with six points (1-5 FG, 1-3 3Pt, 3-3 FT), five rebounds and four assists over 17 minutes.
Champagnie has been remarkably quiet over his last five games, averaging just 3.8 points and 2.6 rebounds while shooting 18.2 percent from the field in 19.2 minutes per game. A silver lining for the 22-year-old was a season-high four assists Saturday, but he's failing to impress in a starting role at the moment.
Champagnie supplied 12 points (3-6 FG, 3-6 3Pt, 3-3 FT), four rebounds, two assists and one steal over 22 minutes during Tuesday's 106-98 loss to the Grizzlies.
Champagnie has started six consecutive games but hasn't been very consistent, scoring seven or fewer points in three of those outings while reaching the 15-point mark just once. Given the uncertainty of the Spurs' rotation and the fact that Champagnie hasn't been able to stand out with extended minutes, his fantasy appeal is minimal at the moment, and he shouldn't be targeted outside of deep formats.
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Spurs' Julian Champagnie: Efficient shooter off bench
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Champagnie amassed 15 points (5-6 FG, 5-6 3Pt), one rebound, one assist and two blocks in 14 minutes during Sunday's 146-110 loss to the Pelicans.
Champagnie saw minutes off the bench amid the struggles of the Spurs' regular rotation members, and he certainly caused a good impression after missing just one of his six attempts from beyond the arc. He might be in line to see more minutes off the bench in the near future, but even if that's the case, don't expect Champagnie to have a role in fantasy formats any time soon.
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Spurs' Julian Champagnie: Slides to second unit
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Champagnie won't start Wednesday's game against the Clippers.
After making four straight starts, Champagnie will be replaced in the first unit by Malaki Branham. Over the starting stretch, Champagnie averaged 8.3 points, 2.8 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 2.6 steals-plus-blocks. However, with the Spurs at full heath, expect Champagnie's workload to diminish.
Champagnie is in the starting lineup for Monday's preseason game against Oklahoma City, Jeff McDonald of the San Antonio Express-News reports.
Champagnie will get a chance with the first unit Monday evening with Keldon Johnson sitting due to general soreness. Champagnie put together a strong campaign during Summer League and should be in line for steady bench minutes in the frontcourt during the 2023-24 campaign given his versatility.
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Spurs' Julian Champagnie: Continues Summer League dominance
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Champagnie recorded 28 points (8-17 FG, 5-10 3PT, 7-7 FT), five rebounds and two blocks over 27 minutes of Wednesday's 109-99 Summer League win over the Lakers.
After dropping 30 points in the Spurs' Summer League opener, Champagnie poured in 28 more points Wednesday. Though Victor Wembenyama is expected to join the team in Las Vegas for their upcoming games, Champagnie should remain one of San Antonio's top options.
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Spurs' Julian Champagnie: Drops 30 points in win
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Champagnie scored 30 points (9-20 FG, 5-12 3Pt, 7-9 FT) and added eight rebounds, two assists and four steals in 25 minutes during Monday's Summer League game against the Hornets.
Champagnie scored 15 of his 30 points from beyond the arc in this one and led the Spurs' scoring attack in the first action of Summer League. After inking a four-year, $12 million contract at the end of June, the second-year guard has plenty to prove heading into his second NBA season.
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Spurs' Julian Champagnie: Nets qualifying offer
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The Spurs tendered Champagnie a two-way qualifying offer Thursday, making him a restricted free agent, Keith Smith of Spotrac.com reports.
San Antonio will now be able to match contract offers from other teams. Champagnie played in 17 games between the 76ers and Spurs as a rookie last season and averaged 9.7 points and 3.5 rebounds in 18.8 minutes.
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Spurs' Julian Champagnie: Bags first career double-double
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Champagnie totaled 16 points (5-16 FG, 3-10 3Pt, 3-4 FT), 10 rebounds and three assists in 33 minutes in Sunday's 138-117 win over the Mavericks.
Due to San Antonio holding out several key rotation players over the final few weeks of the season, Champagnie was able to take hold of a consistent 20-plus-minute role down the stretch. He wrapped up his rookie campaign with a double-double and averaged 20.0 points (on 47.9 percent shooting from the field), 6.2 boards, 3.8 three-pointers, 1.2 assists and 0.6 steals over his last five outings to conclude the season. Though Champagnie won't be in line to handle heavy minutes to begin the 2023-24 season and may not even be part of the rotation, he likely showed enough for San Antonio to retain him while he heads into restricted free agency this summer.
