Inside The Panthers

Former Pitt Basketball F Justin Champagnie Signs Two-Year Deal With Raptors

After entering the league as an undrafted free agent, the former Pitt Panther has signed his first real NBA contract.
Stephen Thompson|
Former Pitt Basketball F Justin Champagnie Signs Two-Year Deal With Raptors
Former Pitt Basketball F Justin Champagnie Signs Two-Year Deal With Raptors

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Pittsburgh PanthersToronto Raptors

PITTSBURGH -- When Justin Champagnie finished his second year as a Pitt Panther and declared for the 2021 NBA Draft, he was almost certain that a First-Team All-ACC season would propel him up into one of the Draft's two rounds. It didn't and he instead signed an undrafted free agent contract with the Toronto Raptors. 

Champagnie spent the 2021-22 season primarily with Toronto's G League affiliate, the Raports 905. He tore up his competition, averaging 21 points, eight rebounds and a block while shooting north of 40% from 3-point distance. That impressive season earned the former Panther a permanent spot in the NBA. He signed a two-year deal with the Raptors on Thursday, cementing his spot in the best basketball league in the world. 

The timing is good for Champagnie, who will enjoy a bump a league-wide bump in the minimum salary. It is expected to surpass the $1 million mark for the first time in NBA history during the 2023-24 season. Last season, the estimated league minimum was $925,000. His contract is good for two years, with the first year's salary being partially guaranteed and the second non-guaranteed, according to Spotrac's Keith Smith. 

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Stephen Thompson
STEPHEN THOMPSON

Stephen Thompson graduated with a bachelor's degree in communications and political science from Pitt in April 2022 after spending four years as a sports writer and editor at The Pitt News, the University of Pittsburgh's independent, student-run newspaper.  He primarily worked the Pitt men's basketball beat, and filled in on coverage of football, volleyball, softball, gymnastics and lacrosse, in addition to other sports as needed. His work at The Pitt News has won awards from the Pennsylvania News Media Association and Associated College Press.  During the spring and summer of 2021, Stephen interned for Pittsburgh Sports Now, covering baseball in western Pennsylvania. Hailing from Washington D.C., family ties have cultivated a love of Boston's professional teams and Pitt athletics, and a fascination with sports in general.  You can reach Stephen by email at stephenethompson00@gmail.com and follow him on Twitter. Read his latest work:

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