Julian Champagnie saved Spurs from regrettable trade critics swore they needed

Entering the 2025-26 NBA season, a consistent question was posed about the San Antonio Spurs: How will they overcome their subpar shooting? Stephon Castle, De'Aaron Fox, and Dylan Harper had all earned the reputations of inefficient three-point options, and neither Keldon Johnson nor Devin Vassell had displayed the consistency San Antonio needed to offset that concern.

With their backs seemingly against the wall and a trade seeming inevitable, Julian Champagnie rose to the occasion to prove the roster can work as currently constructed.

The Spurs' critics have been partially vindicated in 2025-26, as Castle is shooting just 29.3 percent from beyond the arc and Harper has been even less efficient at a woeful yet somewhat forgivable rookie-year percentage of 25.4. Fox is shooting 35.1 percent from distance, however, which has helped ease the concerns.

Johnson and Vassell have answered the call, as well, with the former shooting 38.3 percent on 3.1 attempts per game and the latter converting a matching 38.3 percent on 6.6 attempts on average.

Though that all sounds sufficient, the key to each player's success has been that they haven't been held to the standard of three-point or bust. The outside shot has come within the flow of the game, thus allowing them to play to their respective strengths.

Champagnie has been the key to allowing such a development to take hold, as he's taken pressure off of his teammates by thriving as the Spurs' resident three-point specialist.

Julian Champagnie's emergence enabled Spurs to avoid breaking up core

Champagnie has been the unsung hero of the Spurs' remarkable success during the 2025-26 season. Though he'd proven to be a quality player in the past, he's taken his game to a new level when San Antonio has needed him most, thus starting 45 of his 59 appearances.

Now playing a career-high 27.9 minutes per game, Champagnie's three-point shooting has enabled the players on the speculative trading block to prove their worth in roles that suit them.

Champagnie is shooting 38.2 percent from beyond the arc on 6.5 attempts per game. Though Vassell has him slightly beat in both categories, the difference is simple. While 55.8 percent of Vassell's field goal have been threes, Champagnie checks in at a specialist-level percentage of 76.6.

In other words: Vassell has shot a high volume of threes, but has maintained his overall versatility as a scorer due to the presence of a teammate who's willing to take on a specialized role next to him.

Julian Champagnie saved Keldon Johnson, Devin Vassell from trade

With a true specialist emerging, the Spurs were able to justify not swapping Johnson or Vassell for a player who fit that mold. Though San Antonio still ranks No. 17 in three-point field goals made and percentage, Champagnie has internally addressed the need for a marksman to replace them in the rotation.

That much is proven by the fact that Champagnie currently ranks No. 8 in the NBA—minimum: 40 games played—with 2.3 catch-and-shoot three-point field goals made per game.

With Vassell taking a step forward as a shooter and Johnson learning to pick his spots, the Spurs have proven sufficient in a perceived area of weakness. It's a direct result of neither Johnson nor Vassell needing to cater their game to the three-ball, but instead more healthily incorporating it into their proverbial diet.

In the process, the 43-16 Spurs have begun to realize their potential as a championship contender, with Champagnie filling a vital role that allows the depth chart to take its natural shape.