Julian Champagnie

Julian Champagnie is an American professional basketball player for the San Antonio Spurs, a forward whose three-point shooting and undrafted-to-rotation rise define his career. At St. John's University, he led the Big East in scoring and earned two first-team all-conference nods. But the 2022 NBA Draft came and went without his name called. That setback became fuel.

Champagnie started on a two-way contract with the Philadelphia 76ers, was waived, then claimed by the Spurs. By 2025-26, he had started 68 games, set a franchise single-season record for three-pointers, and helped San Antonio reach the NBA Finals. His blend of shooting, length, and defensive versatility makes him a modern 3-and-D wing. Fans connect with his grit, a New York kid who bet on himself and won. [edit]

Champagnie grew up in the Kensington neighborhood of Brooklyn, splitting courts with his twin brother Justin at Bishop Loughlin Memorial High School. As a senior, he averaged 17.2 points and earned First Team All-CHSAA AA honors, but major programs hesitated. He committed to St. John's over offers from Pittsburgh, Washington State, Cincinnati, and Seton Hall.

At St. John's, his sophomore season changed everything. Champagnie more than doubled his scoring from 9.9 to 19.8 points per game, shot 38% from three on 6.3 attempts, and led the Big East in scoring. He repeated as first-team All-Big East as a junior. Yet on draft night 2022, no team selected him. The snub stung, but it also sharpened his resolve. [edit]

Philadelphia signed Champagnie to a two-way deal after the draft, but he appeared in only two games before being waived to make room for Mac McClung ahead of the Slam Dunk Contest. The Spurs claimed him off waivers in February 2023. He played 15 games that season, averaging 19.0 points per 36 minutes, enough to earn a four-year, $12-million contract in June 2023.

His role grew each season. In 2025-26, Champagnie started 68 of 82 games, posting career highs of 11.1 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 1.5 assists while shooting 38.1% from deep. He set a Spurs single-season record for made three-pointers. In the playoffs, he averaged 11.5 points and 6 rebounds on 40.2% three-point shooting, including a 20-point Game 7 in the Western Conference Finals that sent the Spurs to the NBA Finals. [edit]

Champagnie is known as a sharpshooting, 3-and-D wing who spaces the floor and defends multiple positions. Media coverage frames him as an undrafted success story and an unsung hero of the Spurs' playoff run. Spurs fans have embraced him as a homegrown grind-it-out player; his three-point shooting has made him a fan favorite during the 2026 postseason. On social media, he keeps a low-key, professional tone, posting mostly basketball content and team achievements. [edit]

Julian Champagnie's public profile remains firmly rooted in the court rather than the cultural stage. He is a professional basketball player whose recognition stems from his on-court trajectory: an undrafted rookie who clawed his way from a two-way contract to a cornerstone role for the San Antonio Spurs, culminating in a franchise-record shooting season and a trip to the 2026 NBA Finals. His fanbase consists primarily of Spurs supporters and basketball analysts who track his development, but there is no formal fandom name, organized chart pushes, or specific rituals associated with him. Social media interactions are standard athlete fare, focused on team achievements and charity work like the USAA esports tournament honoring Gold Star families, lacking the viral mythology or street-level lore seen with pop culture icons. While he joined the cast of Inside the NBA following a win over the Clippers, this appearance was a standard post-game feature rather than a moment that sparked widespread cultural disruption. The narrative surrounding him is strictly professional, centering on his re-signing to a lucrative three-year deal as an unsung hero finding his perfect fit after being waived by Philadelphia. There are no documented fan-funded projects, subway ads, or inside jokes within the provided text. Julian Champagnie is currently evaluated by the iFANN Global Fame Engine but does not hold a placement in the published rankings, meaning he is not currently ranked among the top 1,000 most famous people globally or within any specific scope list.[edit]

Champagnie grew up in Brooklyn's Kensington neighborhood after being born on Staten Island, though his last name is pronounced sham-PEH-nee. He shares a unique bond with his twin brother Justin, who also plays in the NBA for the Washington Wizards; both brothers went undrafted in the 2022 NBA Draft. In a twist of fate, Champagnie was waived by the Philadelphia 76ers specifically to free up a roster spot for Mac McClung's Slam Dunk Contest appearance. During his college career at St. John's University, he posted one of the largest single-season scoring leaps in school history, jumping from 9.9 to 19.8 points per game. By the 2026 NBA Finals, he became the only player on either team who grew up in New York, played college ball in New York, yet suited up for the opposing side. His re-signing to a three-year, $45 million contract with the Spurs marked a transition from waiver claim to cornerstone player, solidifying his status as a key contributor who found a home in San Antonio.[edit]

Julian's twin brother, Justin Champagnie, is a forward for the Washington Wizards. The two grew up playing basketball together in Brooklyn and both went undrafted in 2022. Their parents have stayed out of the spotlight. Julian does not have a publicly known spouse or children and keeps his household life private. [edit]

Champagnie's twin brother Justin Champagnie plays for the Washington Wizards. He was briefly teammates with Mac McClung in Philadelphia. In San Antonio, he plays alongside Victor Wembanyama, Stephon Castle, and Dylan Harper under coach Gregg Popovich. [edit]

As of 2026, Julian Champagnie has not publicly confirmed any romantic relationships. No credible media reports have linked him to a partner. He maintains a private personal life and is currently single. [edit]

iFANN currently estimates Julian Champagnie's net worth at $5 Million. His primary income source is his NBA salary, which has grown significantly since his entry into the league. He signed a four-year, $12-million contract with the Spurs in June 2023. His base earnings have climbed from roughly $500,000 on a two-way deal in 2022-23 to $3 million in 2025-26. The contract includes a team option for 2026-27 at $3 million. Endorsement income is minimal; no major national deals have been reported. He has no known business ventures or real estate holdings.[edit]

Champagnie was a two-time First-Team All-Big East selection (2021, 2022) and led the conference in scoring as a sophomore. He has not won any NBA-level awards. [edit]