The San Antonio Spurs just made it clear: they’re not treating Julian Champagnie like a footnote anymore. Less than two weeks after losing the NBA Finals to the Knicks in five games, the team handed the 24-year-old forward a three-year, $45 million contract extension that runs through 2028-29.
ESPN’s Shams Charania broke the news Thursday. The Spurs declined Champagnie’s $3 million team option to create a new deal from scratch. That’s a serious upgrade for a guy who was waived three years ago and has turned himself into a legit rotation piece alongside Victor Wembanyama.
From waiver wire to core piece
Champagnie wasn’t even on the radar when he first landed in San Antonio. He got cut by Philadelphia in 2022, picked up by the Spurs on a two-way deal, and ground his way into an everyday role. This season he averaged 12.3 points and 4.1 rebounds while shooting 38 percent from three. Not flashy numbers, but the kind of steady production that lets Wembanyama operate without the defense sagging off everyone else.
In the Finals, Champagnie hit some rough patches shooting-wise — not uncommon against New York’s switching defense — but he didn’t shrink. He kept competing on the glass and stayed in front of guys on the perimeter. The Spurs lost, but the experience mattered for a young roster that’s clearly growing.
The new contract averages $15 million per year, which is fair for a 3-and-D wing who spaces the floor for a generational big man. That type of player usually gets overpaid on the open market, so locking him up now makes sense. The Spurs have cap flexibility and they’re using it to keep guys who fit.
What this means for San Antonio
Wembanyama is the engine, obviously. But the Spurs need shooters and defenders around him who don’t need the ball in their hands to be effective. Champagnie fits that category. He’s not a star and probably never will be, but he’s a legit starter on a team that just went to the Finals. That has value.
The front office is clearly thinking about continuity. They’ve got Wembanyama, Devin Vassell, Keldon Johnson, Jeremy Sochan, and now Champagnie locked into multi-year deals. That’s five guys under 26 who’ve all played real minutes in playoff games. Not many teams have that.
More details on the contract structure and incentives are expected to come out soon. But for now, Champagnie gets the bag and the Spurs get some roster stability. Not a bad trade-off.
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