Spurs need Julian Champagnie growth to help them with Carter Bryant

The San Antonio Spurs were so close. They were a few wins away from an NBA Championship, but they just couldn’t get past the New York Knicks. Now, they’re heading into next season with a vengeance. But one guy nobody has talked about much is Julian Champagnie, and he could be in for a big-time year next season.

Champagnie was a huge part of the Spurs’ success last year. His three-point shooting and consistent defensive presence helped him stay on the court in even the biggest of moments. But now, the Spurs will want him to take another leap. And how well he plays could help determine a lot of things about the team’s present and future.

How well Champagnie plays could help the Spurs decide how much they need to lean into Tobias Harris, but more importantly, it could help them figure out how quickly they need Carter Bryant to develop.

Spurs need Julian Champagnie to keep developing

Champagnie is still only 25 years old. Yet he’s already been a starter on a championship team after getting waived by the Philadelphia 76ers just a few years ago. He’s definitely found his footing.

But now that Champagnie has established himself as a legitimate NBA player, he needs to keep growing. He needs to add more to his game and continue to improve to help the Spurs.

If Champagnie does that this year – perhaps adding some more self-creation and defensive tools – it could help the Spurs trust him more and take their time in some other areas.

Bryant looks like the type of guy who could play a huge role for the Spurs down the line. Champagnie playing well and getting better will allow San Antonio to take its time with Bryant.

At this point in his career, Bryant needs to focus on improving as a player without all the pressure that comes with having to play. Champagnie remaining in the starting linepu will help in that area.

If Bryant can keep playing spot minutes behind Champagnie, rather than having to leap into a bigger role, it will help his development. And that should be a priority for the Spurs.

Then, there’s Harris. The Spurs signed Harris in free agency this summer to provide them with some depth and veteran leadership at the power forward position.

However, at 34 years old, Harris is definitely entering the final stage of his career. He played a huge role for the Detroit Pistons in the playoffs last year, but who knows how fast his game will decline.

If Champagnie struggles, the Spurs could have to lean on Harris more than they may like. But if he keeps growing, they won’t have to depend on the veteran.

Champagnie seems destined to keep his starting job, and it’s up to him to make the most of that. San Antonio needs him to keep progressing as a player.

Add us as a preferred source on Google

Follow