5 Promising players who could surprise Spurs fans this season

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4. Julian Champagnie

Julian Champagnie also delivered an outstanding string of performances at Summer League, but his success shouldn’t be all that surprising. He dazzled fans down the homestretch of last season, demonstrating his two-way abilities for a shorthanded Spurs squad. Though he only suited up for 15 games with San Antonio, he had turned heads with a double-double against the Mavericks.

Champagnie put the NBA on notice with his breakthrough this offseason, and he is proving to be a promising player with plenty of untapped upside. He averaged an impressive 20.0 points, 7.0 rebounds, and 3.4 assists per game at Summer League and even dropped 30 points against the Hornets in the opening matchup of the California Classic.

Coach Pop can use Champagnie as a valuable asset coming off the bench, and his playing time could gradually increase as he continues to develop. The 22-year-old forward will face stiff competition on the depth chart as he must battle Keldon Johnson, Reggie Bullock, Cedi Osman, and Doug McDermott for minutes. Regardless, Spurs fans shouldn't count him out.