Julian Champagnie Bio
Julian Kymani Champagnie is an American professional basketball player for the San Antonio Spurs of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played college basketball for the St. John’s Red Storm, twice earning all-conference honors in the Big East. Listed at 201 centimeters tall and 98 kilograms, he plays as a forward and has built his professional resume across the G League and the NBA.
Early Life and Background
Julian Kymani Champagnie was born on June 29, 2001, in Staten Island, New York, and grew up in Brooklyn, New York. He attended Bishop Loughlin Memorial High School, where he played alongside his identical twin brother, Justin, who also went on to a career in professional basketball. The brothers came from a multi-generational New York family; their mother is from Carroll Gardens, Brooklyn, and their father, Ranford, grew up in the Bronx after immigrating from Jamaica.
Ranford Champagnie played soccer for St. John’s University in the mid-1990s and was a member of the 1996 national championship team before becoming a professional soccer coach. That same competitive environment shaped Julian’s early years, and basketball quickly became his primary focus. He averaged 15 points as a junior at Bishop Loughlin, earning Third Team All-Catholic High School Athletic Association (CHSAA) AA honors, before averaging 17.2 points as a senior on his way to First Team All-CHSAA AA recognition.
Path to Basketball
Following his senior season at Bishop Loughlin Memorial High School, Champagnie emerged as a recruiting target for several college programs. He committed to playing college basketball for St. John’s over offers from Pittsburgh, Washington State, Cincinnati, and Seton Hall, choosing to stay in New York City and continue his development close to home.
At St. John’s, Champagnie quickly established himself as one of the top young players in the Big East Conference. He was named to the Big East All-Freshman Team in 2020, was recognized as the Big East Co-Most Improved Player in 2021, and earned First Team All-Big East honors in both 2021 and 2022. These achievements set the stage for his transition to professional basketball.
Julian Champagnie Career
Early Career (2019–2022)
Champagnie began his college career with the St. John’s Red Storm in 2019, and his development was immediate. As a freshman, he averaged 9.9 points and 6.5 rebounds per game, twice earning Big East Freshman of the Week recognition and securing a spot on the All-Freshman Team. A standout performance came on March 4, 2020, when he recorded a freshman season-high 23 points and six rebounds in a 77–55 loss to Butler.
His sophomore season marked a major leap. On November 30, 2020, he opened the year with 29 points and 10 rebounds in a 97–93 win over Boston College, and on January 9, 2021, he posted 33 points and 10 rebounds in a loss to seventh-ranked Creighton, the first 30-point double-double by a St. John’s player since D’Angelo Harrison in 2015. He averaged 19.8 points, 7.4 rebounds, 1.4 steals, and one block per game as a sophomore, then declared for the 2021 NBA draft before withdrawing and returning for his junior year. In his final college season, he set a career high with 34 points in an 89–84 win over DePaul on January 5, 2022, averaged 19.2 points, 6.6 rebounds, two steals, and 1.1 blocks per game, and earned First Team All-Big East honors for the second straight season.
Philadelphia 76ers and Delaware Blue Coats (2022–2023)
After going undrafted in the 2022 NBA draft, Champagnie signed a two-way contract with the Philadelphia 76ers on June 24, 2022, splitting time between the 76ers and their NBA G League affiliate, the Delaware Blue Coats. The arrangement gave him his first exposure to the NBA system while continuing to log meaningful development minutes in the G League.
His time with the 76ers organization was short. On February 14, 2023, Philadelphia waived Champagnie, opening the door for the next chapter of his career.
San Antonio and Austin Spurs (2023–Present)
Two days after being waived, on February 16, 2023, the San Antonio Spurs claimed Champagnie off waivers and signed him to a two-way contract, also assigning him to the Austin Spurs of the G League. On July 6, 2023, he re-signed with San Antonio, cementing his place within the organization.
The 2024–25 NBA season was a defining one for Champagnie. He appeared in all 82 games for San Antonio, averaging 9.9 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 1.4 assists. On February 10, 2025, he played against his twin brother Justin for the first time in an NBA game when the Spurs met the Washington Wizards, a meeting that placed them among a very small number of twins to face each other in an NBA contest.
Driving Style and Strengths
On the court, Champagnie is a versatile forward whose game is built on perimeter scoring, rebounding, and the ability to stretch defenses. He complements his 201-centimeter frame with active rebounding and length on both ends of the floor, and his averages of 1.4 steals and 1.1 blocks in his final college season reflect an attentive defender. His steady presence has made him a reliable rotation piece for the Spurs.
Notable Events and Milestones
Champagnie’s most memorable NBA milestone came on February 10, 2025, when he faced his identical twin brother Justin of the Washington Wizards in a regular-season game, a rare matchup in league history. He also completed the 2024–25 season by playing in all 82 games, a durability mark that highlighted his growth into a full-time NBA contributor.
Julian Champagnie Career Wins
While individual win totals across leagues are not fully verified, Champagnie’s career is defined by team results, individual scoring outbursts, and postseason recognition. He has collected First Team All-Big East honors twice, a Big East Co-Most Improved Player award, and a Big East All-Freshman Team selection, and he appeared in all 82 games for San Antonio during the 2024–25 NBA season.
College Highlights
At St. John’s, Champagnie posted multiple 30-point performances, including a career-high 34 points against DePaul on January 5, 2022, and 33 points against Creighton on January 9, 2021. He closed his three-year college career as a two-time First Team All-Big East selection and a steady double-digit scorer and rebounder.
Professional Highlights
In the G League, Champagnie spent time with the Delaware Blue Coats and the Austin Spurs, gaining the development experience that helped him earn an NBA foothold. His 2024–25 season in San Antonio, in which he played every game and averaged 9.9 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 1.4 assists, stands as his most productive NBA stretch to date.
Julian Champagnie Family
Family Background and Basketball Lineage
Basketball runs in the Champagnie family. Julian’s identical twin brother, Justin, also plays professional basketball and is a member of the Washington Wizards, and the two faced each other in an NBA game for the first time on February 10, 2025. Their father, Ranford Champagnie, was a soccer player at St. John’s in the mid-1990s and a member of the 1996 national championship team, and later worked as a professional soccer coach.
Personal Life
Champagnie was born in the United States and is of Jamaican descent. He is a multi-generational New Yorker, raised in Kensington, Brooklyn, with deep family ties to Carroll Gardens, Brooklyn, and the Bronx. He continues to pursue his professional basketball career in the NBA with the San Antonio Spurs.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 calendar year represents a continuation of Julian Champagnie’s most complete NBA season. During the 2024–25 campaign, he played all 82 games for the San Antonio Spurs, averaging 9.9 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 1.4 assists, establishing himself as a steady presence in the team’s rotation.
The most talked-about storyline of his 2025 season was the February 10, 2025, matchup against his twin brother Justin of the Washington Wizards, a moment that drew national attention and placed the Champagnie brothers among a very small number of twins to compete against each other in an NBA game. That contest highlighted the personal significance of his professional journey alongside his family.
Looking ahead, Champagnie’s durability and consistent production position him as a depth piece with room to grow within the Spurs’ system. Continued shooting efficiency and defensive growth will be key benchmarks to watch as he builds on the momentum of a full, 82-game season.