Julian Champagnie, the 25-year-old forward who has become a core piece of San Antonio’s young nucleus, signed a three-year, $45 million extension on Thursday. In a video shared on X, the former Philadelphia waiver claim said, “Hopefully I’m here for the rest of my playing career. I love it here. It’s the best.” The remark underscored his desire to make the Spurs the long-term home for his NBA career.
The deal runs through the 2028-29 season and contains $42 million in new money, marking the first substantial long-term security of Champagnie’s professional life. By locking him up for the next three years, the organization not only rewards the forward’s development but also preserves salary-cap flexibility as it builds around its emerging stars.
Champagnie’s on-court production solidified the contract’s value. He appeared in all 82 games last season, posting career-high averages of 11.1 points and 5.8 rebounds while starting alongside Victor Wembanyama, Stephon Castle and Dylan Harper. He also shattered Danny Green’s franchise mark for three-pointers in a season with 192 makes and set a new single-game record by draining 11 threes in a win over the Knicks.
The path to this security was anything but assured. Philadelphia waived Champagnie in February 2023 to free a two-way roster spot for Mac McClung. The move left the forward in tears, convinced his NBA future might be over. The Spurs seized the chance, offering him a roster spot that reignited his career and allowed him to prove his worth on a daily basis.
Champagnie’s shooting ability stretches the floor for a Spurs team built around Wembanyama’s interior dominance. His capacity to knock down high-volume three-pointers creates spacing for the franchise’s playmakers and adds a reliable scoring option in the wing rotation. After a run to the NBA Finals, retaining a player who can reliably contribute from deep signals San Antonio’s commitment to keeping its core intact.
From a fringe player on the brink of exiting the league to a record-setting starter with a multi-year, $45 million contract, Champagnie’s story reflects the Spurs’ knack for discovering and developing overlooked talent. As the team looks ahead, his continued presence promises stability on the wing and a steady hand for a franchise eager to translate recent success into sustained contention.
