"I just keep shooting": Julian Champagnie on hot start with Spurs, thriving with Victor Wembanyama, and his ever improving defense (Exclusive)

NBA: San Antonio Spurs at Houston Rockets - Source: Imagn
Julian Champagnie has improved this season, he has been a rock for the Spurs in defence and he intends to shoot better. Picture credits: Imagn

As the San Antonio Spurs navigate a season filled with injuries to key wing players and the temporary absence of head coach Gregg Popovich, Julian Champagnie has stepped up as a critical contributor in the rotation.

Averaging 10.4 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 1.7 assists across nine performances, Champagnie’s dedication to improving his defense and shooting has quickly made him an invaluable part of San Antonio’s rotation as the organization identifies long-term fits next to Victor Wembanyama.

After beginning his career with the Philadelphia 76ers organization in 2022-23 after an impressive tenure at St. John's that led to two First-Team All-Big East nominations, Champagnie, 23, seems to have found an NBA home in San Antonio. He's signed to a four-year, $12 million contract, bringing great value to the Spurs.

The Spurs’ coaching staff has been quick to recognize Champagnie’s impact. With the team’s wing depth thinning amid a series of injuries, he's been asked to start and take on significant responsibilities as a critical complementary player.

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“He’s done a great job with consistency, especially making shots,” interim head coach Mitch Johnson detailed to Sportskeeda. “We’ve asked him to start and produce, which isn’t easy in this league, and he’s stepped up on defense too, guarding premier players almost every game. It’s a big task on both ends, and he’s handled it well, even though it’s new for him in that role.”

Embracing Defensive Challenge

Champagnie credits much of his early-season success to an offseason focus on becoming a more complete player, especially on defense. With the necessary physical tools to get the job done, he's focused on maximizing his potential, often by using his intelligence as a player and positioning.

“This offseason, I definitely honed in on defense, just trying to be better all around,” Champagnie told Sportskeeda. “I’m not the quickest or most athletic guy on the court, but I am smart, and I have length and size. So, it’s been about getting in front of guys, staying in front, and just telling myself I can do that.”

While perimeter shooting is always valuable, Champagnie’s role on defense has become equally vital. With key defensive players like Jeremy Sochan and Devin Vassell often sidelined early this season, Champagnie has willingly taken on the challenge of guarding tougher matchups.

“Defense is an effort thing. You have to play hard and take pride in not wanting to get beat or have guys scoring on you,” Champagnie explained to Sportskeeda. “I like being that guy. With Jeremy out, who usually guards the best player, I’ll take on the second-best, and I’m perfectly fine with that.”

Champagnie emphasized the importance of film study to refine his game as he hones in on his defensive impact. He mentioned studying various players, such as Danny Green, Tony Allen, and Kawhi Leonard.

“Last year, I watched film too, but this year I’m taking it more seriously. I’m watching guys like Danny Green, Tony Allen, and Kawhi Leonard—players known for defense,” Champagnie shared with Sportskeeda.

Champagnie is also enthusiastic about the team’s long-term defensive potential, especially with various wings alongside him that are eager to guard tough assignments, anchored by Wembanyama on the backline.

“Our starting lineup has Chris Paul, and then everyone else is 6'8" or taller. It feels good to pressure up on a guy, knowing Vic’s back there if I get beat,” he told Sportskeeda. “I think we have a lot of defensive potential, and we’ve shown improvement so far this season.”

Champagnie's Versatile Offensive Skill Set

One player who has particularly benefited from Champagnie’s development is Wembanyama, the Spurs’ franchise centerpiece. Wembanyama has seen firsthand Champagnie’s ability to impact offense and defense.

“He impacts both sides of the floor,” Wembanyama explained to Sportskeeda. “For me, it’s the definition of embracing his role and really benefiting from it. Defensively, he really gets tough jobs, but he answers to the toughness of his opponents. And offensively, his shot-making ability just opens the floor a lot for us.”

The Spurs' significant offseason backcourt addition, Chris Paul, has also been instrumental in positioning Champagnie effectively on offense. However, offensively, Champagnie prioritized consistency in his shot-making while working out this summer, and that's been instrumental in his consistency during the early part of this season. He's shooting 45.3 percent from the floor and 36.7 percent from beyond the arc while getting up 6.0 attempts per game from the perimeter.

“I can’t be a shooter without making shots, so I gotta do that,” Champagnie told Sportskeeda. “The coaching staff has been big on encouraging me, always preaching threes and stuff. They want me to be a spacer for the team. A lot of times, I attract defenders, which opens up driving lanes for my teammates."

A significant part of Champagnie's early improvement as a perimeter shooter can be seen in how he's managed to convert on his attempts, even when he's drawing a contest, shaking up the wing, or drifting to the corner. He's averaging 6.0 points per game on catch-and-shoot attempts, ranking 28th in the league entering Friday's action. His output of 1.07 points per possession (PPP) on guarded attempts significantly improved over the 0.88 PPP he created last season despite a higher rate of his shots being pressured.

"I just keep shooting, whether it's high contest, no contest, whatever," Champagnie explained. "My teammates and coaches have given me a lot of confidence to shoot.”

Focusing only on his shooting would be doing a disservice to Champagnie's offensive impact. With how unique a player Wembanyama is, he naturally commands a lot of defensive attention. Champagnie has remained an active cutter and general off-ball mover to make the defense pay. As the Spurs continue to work to get the most out of Wembanyama's never-before-seen combination of attributes, having complementary talents like Champagnie goes a long way.

“Vic is a little unpredictable sometimes because he’s such a unique player at 7'5" and does things that are just different,” Champagnie explained to Sportskeeda. “But I try to make myself available to make his life a little easier—whether that's being the first guy next to him in the post so they can’t double-team him from my side or just playing off his tendencies.”

This synergy between Wembanyama and Champagnie is particularly evident when defenses focus on Wembanyama, creating openings for his teammates. Champagnie has remained focused on keeping the defense honest not only as a shooter but also as a cutter, whether he's spacing the floor initially, after making an entry pass, or deployed in an action with Wembanyama.

“That’s why I’m always in action with him—cutting off him, screening for him, or vice versa,” Champagnie told Sportskeeda. “Usually, one of us has to take on two defenders, and it’s often him. So, if he takes two, I can cut to the basket, or he rolls and I pop out.”

Looking Ahead

The Spurs are expected to gain Devin Vassell in the lineup for Saturday's matchup against the Utah Jazz. He's been sidelined for the entire start of the regular season as he recovers from offseason foot surgery.

While Vassell is set to return, the Spurs lost Jeremy Sochan recently, who underwent thumb surgery. There isn't a clear timetable for a return for Sochan, leaving a continued significant opportunity for Champagnie to remain an instrumental element in San Antonio's wing rotation.

When Vassell and Sochan are both healthy, Champagnie continues to solidify himself as a valuable contributor who can bolster the team's wing talent. If he sustains his recent production, San Antonio will surely appreciate the level of depth the coaching staff has to work with throughout games.

Spurs Fan? Check out the latest San Antonio Spurs depth chart, schedule, and roster updates all in one place.

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Edited by Jeet Pukhrambam
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