Julian Champagnie Leads Spurs to NBA Finals After Waiver Wire Redemption

Julian Champagnie, an undrafted guard from Brooklyn, has advanced to the NBA Finals with the San Antonio Spurs after scoring 20 points in Game 7 of the Western Conference Finals against Oklahoma City. The 22-year-old was waived by the Philadelphia 76ers in February 2023 simply to make roster room for Mac McClung, a dunk contest participant, making Champagnie's rise from castoff to Finals starter one of the league's most improbable turnarounds.

From Waiver Wire to Finals Starter

Champagnie believed his NBA career had ended when the 76ers released him. Two days later, the San Antonio Spurs claimed him off waivers with no guaranteed long-term contract. At that moment, the Spurs were languishing through a 22-win season and months away from winning the lottery that would bring Victor Wembanyama to the franchise. Coach Gregg Popovich immediately told Champagnie he had a specific role: shooting the basketball. That clarity became transformative.

The franchise rewarded Champagnie's progress with a four-year deal worth twelve million dollars following the Wembanyama draft. He averaged nine-point-five points per game on 38 percent three-point shooting across his first three seasons, establishing himself as one of the league's most cost-efficient contracts. This season, under new head coach Mitch Johnson, Champagnie moved into the starting lineup in late December, replacing veteran Harrison Barnes. The results justified the promotion: he has posted a career-high eleven-point-one points per game on 43 percent three-point accuracy.

Game 7 Performance and Finals Matchup

Against Oklahoma City in the conference finals Game 7, Champagnie made six three-pointers and scored 20 points as the Spurs won 111-103 at home. Only Wembanyama, with 22 points, scored more for San Antonio. Champagnie's performance placed him in historic company: he joined Klay Thompson and Stephen Curry as the only players in NBA history to make at least six three-pointers in a conference finals Game 7.

The Spurs will face the New York Knicks in the Finals, marking a homecoming for Champagnie. The Brooklyn native grew up attending St. John's University and has played numerous games at Madison Square Garden, though he clarified he was not a Knicks fan as a child—he followed Kevin Durant's teams instead. With his family waiting for him to deliver a championship, Champagnie told reporters before the conference finals: "Never give up. Find your spot. And when you find your spot, hold onto it. Keep it. Don't let go of it."