The future looks bright in San Antonio and fans are excited to see what the 2024-2025 season brings. However, some players may not be so excited and may be worried about losing their spot on the team.
As the Spurs’ roster looks to be getting more and more crowded after two new signings, some current players are under scrutiny. Coach Gregg Popovich is a wizard at putting the right players in the right position to help them succeed, but if he doesn’t see great potential in a particular player, he won’t give him playing time and will eventually run him out of San Antonio.
Let’s dive in and highlight three players who are in danger of losing playing time and can’t afford a fumble this season.
Julian Champagnie is an unorthodox basketball player. He can work his shot, he uses his long arms to defend well, and at times Champagnie can shine when attacking the basket. The former St. John’s star also has a decent shooting style.
Champagnie burst onto the scene in 2022 after a standout performance in the summer league, and continued that success the following summer. Champagnie played well enough to earn a 4-year, $12 million contract and a spot on the team last season. After regularly sitting on the bench, Champagnie averaged 7 points per game, shooting 39% from the field and an excellent 87% from the free throw line.
In terms of numbers, Champagnie can be a fair backup option for the Spurs. However, since the Spurs have more players on the team, this reduces Champagnie’s chances of playing time. The signing of Harrison Ingram and the recent signing of Brandon Boston Jr. (roster spot pending) also prove that Champagnie has his back against the wall. The three players will compete for the backup small forward position behind Devin Vassell, but Ingram and Boston Jr. are significantly better athletically, giving them the advantage.
If Champagnie gets playing time, he’ll have to excel off the bench. Keldon Johnson and Zach Collins are likely the first two options off the bench going forward. However, Champagnie’s consistency could earn him a bigger role. So, surprisingly, Champagnie will have to overcome one of the biggest hurdles on the entire team.
