Daniel Dunn-USA TODAY Sports
'I'm Comfortable Here': How Spurs Rookie Julian Champagnie Has Quickly Flourished in San Antonio
Knowing that the inevitable "What will your team do next?" question is waiting for him outside the San Antonio Spurs' locker room in Capital One Arena, Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich prepares to face the media after his team's 136-124 loss to the Washington Wizards.
Was he ready to answer the question again, after losing yet another game in what had become a hopeless season for San Antonio? In the past, he would have said yes, though it appeared as though the veteran coach was starting to grow annoyed at having to answer the same question on behalf of the program.
But as usual, Popovich kept it short and simple: "We'll go over it tomorrow, and we'll just keep on pushing."
If nothing else, the Spurs did prove their ability to keep on pushing — even taking a lead in the third quarter prior to a late-game collapse that effectively zeroed their chances.
And despite taking their 55th loss of the season, the Spurs also showed fans once more why their season does still matter on the basis of player development, as rookie forward Julian Champagnie had the best game of his career.
"I'm comfortable here," Champagnie said. "Coach and my teammates always find ways to drag me along. [This] is my first real chance to play in the NBA, and I'm just learning and growing ... but they let me play. That's the best part. I'm able to play the game of basketball."
Champagnie tallied 12 points, three rebounds and two blocks, while also shooting an efficient 5-8 from the field — making his presence felt whenever he was on the court.
"[Julian] has good ability," Popovich said. "He's got great size for his position, and we've been impressed with him. [He] has been a really good addition for us."
Champagnie, along with the Spurs' newest addition, Sandro Mamukelashvili, have both thrived in Popovich's system, which has allowed them to gain real game minutes during a year where San Antonio is only 1 of 4 teams to be eliminated from playoff contention.
That is already more than what could be said of his time with the Philadelphia 76ers — as Champagnie rarely saw the court in NBA matchups.
Now with a bigger role, the 21-year-old emphasized the importance of him doing what been was brought over to do in SA, regardless of how big or small the task may be.
"I'm a role player," Champagnie said. "I do my job well, and that's my plan — to fit where I have to fit in. I space the floor, knock shots down, play hard and give it all I got."
And even more so than his coach, Champagnie's effort has also been noticed by his teammates — who have been on the court with him and watched his development throughout the season on both ends of the floor.
"Julian was great [against the Wizards] again," Spurs small forward Doug McDermott said. "He had some great blocks too. He's a great defender, he's fun to play with and he's unselfish."
Though he has only played in San Antonio for a limited time, his performance against the Wizards was representative of the impact he has had for the rebuilding Spurs — as Champagnie has averaged 7.5 points and three rebound — and the young forward is far from done growing in his game.
"Everybody on our team is young," he said. "That's the great [thing] about this team. As I'm learning something, everybody is learning something. It's not like we have 10-year vets. We all get to learn from each other. It's a unique situation ... but it's fun."
"At the end of the day, you can't take it for granted," he added.
Champagnie's two-way contract is set to be re-evaluated at the end of the season — but if his seven games with San Antonio have proven anything, he could very well become a key part of the Spurs' vision moving forward.
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