In the 2022 NBA Draft, Julian Champagnie went undrafted but was good enough to earn a two-way contract with the Philadelphia 76ers. It was a tough time for Champagnie because he was a solid player in college, winning Most Improved Player in the Big East in 2021, and he was an All-Big East First-Team member twice.
Unfortunately, Champagnie did not impress the NBA scouts ahead of the 2022 Draft. That did not stop him because he is now an established player in the league. After a year with the 76ers, the San Antonio Spurs signed him to a two-way contract, eventually earning a full-time contract. Now, he is a regular member of the rotation for a top Western Conference team.
Champagnie will never forget his journey to the NBA
Many of the top players in the league are usually drafted highly. They were top players in college or in other countries, and that will continue in the NBA. However, there are a lot of forgotten players because they are selected late in the Draft or not selected at all. Champagnie is a member of the latter, as he clawed his way into the NBA.
With the 76ers, Champagnie had limited chances, as he only got to play twice. After signing a two-way deal with the Spurs in the 2022-23 season, Champagnie ramped up his hard work. Now, he is one of their most reliable players, as he is on the floor 27.5 minutes per game. He has become a superb sharpshooter, shooting 37.1% from beyond the arc on 5.9 attempts a night.
More: Julian Champagnie sets Spurs record in totally unexpected career night
On Wednesday, Champagnie had the best game of his career against the New York Knicks. He scored 36 points, with the majority of them coming from three-pointers. Champagnie shot 17 attempts from beyond the arc and made 11 of them. He also made three free throws to finish with 36 points alongside his six rebounds and a defensive contribution with a block.
It was a well-earned performance from Champagnie as he set the record for most three-pointers made for the Spurs franchise. He has continued to earn his place in the Spurs rotation, which is a far cry from what he experienced playing for the 76ers.
"It was rough. I thought I was pretty good in college, I'll be honest. I went undrafted, went to Philadelphia, it was a hard night. Obviously, I cried a lot, was pissed, but it just fueled the fire. Every time you get a disappointment like that, you just gotta have the right perspective for it," Champagnie said after his superb performance on Wednesday.
Now that he is firmly established in the league, Champagnie can keep playing his heart out. He does not have to be worried about his status as an undrafted player anymore. In fact, that makes him even more impressive because he was counted out before. Now, he is thriving as a shooter in head coach Mitch Johnson's system.
The Spurs are one of the best teams in the league, and Champagnie is playing a big role in that. Of course, most of the credit will go to Victor Wembanyama, De'Aaron Fox, and the other prominent players. However, Champagnie is playing a valuable role in the Spurs' charge towards contender status.
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