Julian Champagnie has been a gem. After going undrafted in in 2022, he signed with the Philadelphia 76ers where he played 2 games as well as a handful of games with their G-League affiliate Delaware Blue Coats. He was waived on Valentine’s Day 2023 so the 76ers could allow Mac McClung to participate in the All-Star Dunk Contest.
The 76ers loss was the Spurs gain. He signed on for the remainder of the season and impressed the organization enough to earn a $12M/4-year contract. Since then, Champagnie
has gone on to be an essential component of the Spurs success. He now holds franchise record for postseason three-pointers after this season’s Finals run.
On a personal note, my life has been touched by Julian. Last January, my daughter was the Spurs Ball Kid for the MLK Day game between the Spurs and Utah Jazz. When they announced that her favorite player was Champagnie, he heard his name. After the game, he sent Elizabeth the game worn jersey and signed it for her, thanking her for the support.
A couple of nights later I ran into Champagnie at a Spurs event and he shared that he’d never heard his name as a fan favorite. He was touched and his delight was perceptible. He’s approachable, kind, and friendly. That is who Julian is. He engages with folks, and he is genuine. He’s even gone so far as to include the young fans is part of his warm up. You can see him encouraging young fans to shoot and connect in a way uncommon for most star athletes.
Over the season, Champagnie’s press conferences revealed a refreshing level of honesty. From his feelings on going undrafted to the moments after being waived, Champagnie is open about his journey. He’s taken negative moments and persevered. His worldview inspires as he has fused his positive energy and manifested an amazing career and a life of gratitude.
This year he started in 68 regular season games and all 23 playoff games. He continues to shine on the court and his three-point shooting earned him all kinds of accolades and comparisons. The next step will be receiving the payday he deserves.
Perhaps we should cease using the term “undrafted” and just refer to Champagnie’s pre-Spurs days as “undiscovered.” The Spurs and Champagnie are a great match. He’s really had an opportunity to shine in San Antonio. And his fit is undeniable.
Happy birthday, Jules! Here’s to many more celebrations in San Antonio.
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