Julian Champagnie has contributed consistently throughout the Spurs’ playoff run.
Julian Champagnie played college ball for St. John’s and averaged 16 PPG over his three years with the team. Unfortunately, every team passed on Champagnie in the 2022 NBA Draft, and the UDFA signed a two-way deal with the 76ers. Success didn’t follow, though, and Philadelphia waived him the next year.
The good news is that San Antonio picked him up off waivers, and he has been with the Spurs ever since.
Julian has averaged 11 PPG this year across the regular season and playoffs. At a glance, you might think it isn’t worth a column like this, but if you watch the games, you come to a different conclusion. Why?
Photo courtesy NBC
Champagnie shines in closeout games, delivering his best performances when the Spurs need that final blow to finish off their opponent: 19 points in Game 5 against Portland in the 1st Round, 18 in Game 6 vs. Minnesota, and 20 points in Game 7 vs. the Thunder in OKC.
Julian also gets extremely hot when he sees his threes drop. He shot a staggering 62% from deep in the Trailblazers series, dipped to 36% against the T-Wolves, and then to 33% against the Thunder. Those last two look poor, but again, he plays his best ball in closeout games: 44% from deep in Game 6 vs. Minnesota and 60% in Game 7 vs. the Thunder.
The Spurs have a player who knows his place on the team and when to put his foot to the pedal. He’ll score 20 points and completely flip the game’s momentum. It’s a big reason why Champagnie has become one of my favorite late-season players.
If San Antonio can come back from this 2-0 deficit and claim the Larry O’Brien Trophy, I’ll bet dollars to donuts that “Pop the Champagne” will be a big reason why. Watch him tonight in Game 3, 8:30 PM Eastern.
