Julian ChampagniePlayer·Julian Champagnie has emerged as a crucial contributor for the San Antonio SpursTeam·San Antonio Spurs in their 2026 NBA FinalsCompetition·NBA Finals campaign, a testament to resilience for a player who once believed his professional basketball career was over. His impactful performances have been central to the Spurs' deep playoff run, culminating in a showdown with the New York KnicksTeam·New York Knicks.
Champagnie's most significant moment arrived in Game 7 of the Western Conference FinalsCompetition·Western Conference Finals on May 30, 2026, where the San Antonio SpursTeam·San Antonio Spurs, the second seed in the Western Conference with a 62-20 regular season record, faced the top-seeded Oklahoma City ThunderTeam·Oklahoma City Thunder. In a decisive 111-103 victory, Champagnie delivered 20 points, six rebounds, one assist, and one steal, notably converting six of his ten three-point attempts. His lethal shooting from beyond the arc positioned him as the Spurs' second-leading scorer in that pivotal contest, trailing only Victor WembanyamaPlayer·Victor Wembanyama. This performance placed Julian ChampagniePlayer·Julian Champagnie in elite company, joining Stephen CurryPlayer·Stephen Curry and Klay ThompsonPlayer·Klay Thompson as the only players in NBA history to sink six or more three-pointers in a Conference Finals Game 7. Throughout the Western Conference FinalsCompetition·Western Conference Finals, he averaged 11.9 points, 6.1 rebounds, 1.6 assists, 2.6 threes, 1.1 steals, and 0.9 blocks over 33.9 minutes per game.
His path to this stage is particularly noteworthy. Undrafted in 2022, Champagnie was waived by the Philadelphia 76ersTeam·Philadelphia 76ers in February 2023 after appearing in just two games. Reflecting on that challenging period after the Western Conference FinalsCompetition·Western Conference Finals win, Champagnie stated, "I thought it was over. I ain't going to lie to you. Getting waived with no warning, no nothing, explanation or anything, it was tough." He credited the San Antonio SpursTeam·San Antonio Spurs for providing a new opportunity, adding, "Big, big shout out to the San Antonio SpursTeam·San Antonio Spurs taking an opportunity to a kid from Brooklyn." He also highlighted the role of his teammates in maintaining his composure: "I think my teammates do a really good job of keeping me in check and making sure that I don't never get too high and never get too low." When asked about envisioning a Finals trip at the season's outset, Champagnie remarked, "At the beginning of the year, we told ourselves we want to make the playoffs. We never knew we would take it this far. But when you have the best player in the world, things happen. Things happen."
The 2026 NBA FinalsCompetition·NBA Finals commenced on June 3, with the San Antonio SpursTeam·San Antonio Spurs squaring off against the Eastern Conference champion New York KnicksTeam·New York Knicks. The Knicks, who finished as the third seed in the Eastern Conference with a 53-29 record, entered the Finals on an impressive 11-game postseason winning streak, having swept both the Philadelphia 76ersTeam·Philadelphia 76ers and the Cleveland CavaliersTeam·Cleveland Cavaliers in their conference semifinals and finals. In Game 1 of the NBA FinalsCompetition·NBA Finals, Champagnie continued his hot shooting, draining five three-pointers in the first half against the Knicks. However, he went 0-for-4 from deep in the second half as the Knicks secured a 105-95 victory. Champagnie attributed the second-half struggles to "good adjustments" made by the Knicks.
For the 2025-26 season, Julian ChampagniePlayer·Julian Champagnie has averaged 11.1 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 1.5 assists per game. He has been a consistent presence in the Spurs' lineup, starting the final 50 games of the regular season and all 18 postseason contests. During that regular season stretch, he averaged 12 points, 5.9 rebounds, and 1.7 assists, shooting over 40% from three-point range, contributing to the Spurs' 39-11 record in that period. His adaptability and ability to contribute wherever needed have been key factors in his success with the San Antonio SpursTeam·San Antonio Spurs, transforming him from an unheralded prospect into a vital component of an NBA FinalsCompetition·NBA Finals contender.
Stephon McBride of the New York Knicks in action during the 2026 NBA Finals. (PRESSE SPORTS/IMAGO)
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