Spurs lock in Julian Champagnie with 3-year, $45 million deal after breakout Finals run

The San Antonio Spurs have signed starting forward Julian Champagnie to a new three-year, $45 million contract, a move that formalizes the role he took on during the team’s run to the NBA Finals. The deal, announced Monday, is a direct continuation of the path Champagnie carved out after joining the Spurs, shifting him from a fringe roster option into a core piece in the club’s rotation.

According to Yahoo Sports, the Spurs also declined a $3 million option on Champagnie left over from the contract he signed in 2023. The reported rationale was twofold, avoiding the option while still keeping the player in-house, and, just as importantly, creating more future salary-cap flexibility while extending a role player who had outperformed his earlier placement on the roster.

Champagnie’s rise is rooted in a winding entry to the NBA. Yahoo Sports reported that he entered the league undrafted out of St. John’s in 2022 and spent time with the Philadelphia 76ers before being released. After signing a two-way contract in Philadelphia, he appeared in two NBA games, then moved on to his next opportunity.

San Antonio is where the fit finally clicked. Yahoo Sports described Champagnie’s Spurs arrival as a waiver claim and highlighted how the organization used his skill set effectively enough that he evolved into a starting forward. Listed at 6-foot-7 and 215 pounds, Champagnie has been positioned as a wing who can contribute across matchups, and the Spurs’ willingness to pay for that responsibility suggests he has become part of the team’s more stable identity rather than a short-term answer.

The new contract length and total value also offer a window into how the Spurs view the next phase of roster building. The reported decision to decline the earlier option and replace it with a clean multi-year agreement can help a team manage cap planning in future seasons while still rewarding a player who delivered in high-pressure postseason settings. For a franchise that is commonly associated with developing and recalibrating talent, the move indicates the Spurs are prepared to commit to a player who has already validated his place in the rotation.

What to watch next is how Champagnie’s expanded commitment aligns with the rest of San Antonio’s offseason priorities, particularly around the wing and forward rotation. With the Spurs now having a clearer financial and roster framework for one of their more important non-star contributors, the remaining questions are how the front office balances continuity with further additions, and whether Champagnie’s postseason role remains consistent as the team prepares for the next campaign.