Julian Kymani Champagnie Bio
Julian Kymani Champagnie is an American professional basketball player for the San Antonio Spurs of the National Basketball Association. He played college basketball for the St. John’s Red Storm, where he was a two-time first-team All-Big East selection and led the conference in scoring during the 2020-21 season. After going undrafted in the 2022 NBA Draft, he has established himself as a reliable rotation player in the NBA.
Early Life and Background
Julian Kymani Champagnie was born on June 29, 2001, in Staten Island, New York. He grew up in Brooklyn and attended Bishop Loughlin Memorial High School, where he played alongside his identical twin brother, Justin Champagnie. As a senior, he averaged 17.2 points per game and earned First-team All-CHSAA AA honors. He committed to playing college basketball for St. John’s over offers from Pittsburgh, Washington State, Cincinnati, and Seton Hall.
Path to Basketball
Champagnie began his collegiate career at St. John’s University in the 2019-20 season. He made an immediate impact, recording a season-high 23 points against Butler in his freshman debut and following that with a 21-point, 12-rebound performance against Marquette. He earned Big East All-Freshman Team honors and was named Big East Freshman of the Week twice during the season.
Julian Kymani Champagnie Career
St. John’s Red Storm (2019-2022)
Champagnie emerged as one of the top players in the Big East Conference during his three seasons at St. John’s. As a sophomore during the 2020-21 season, he led the conference in scoring with 19.8 points per game to go along with 7.4 rebounds, 1.4 steals, and one block per game. He earned First-team All-Big East honors and was named Big East Co-Most Improved Player. He tallied a 33-point, 10-rebound performance against seventh-ranked Creighton in January 2021.
Following the season, he declared for the 2021 NBA Draft while maintaining college eligibility but withdrew his name and returned to St. John’s for his junior year. On January 5, 2022, he scored a career-high 34 points in an 89-84 win over DePaul. He averaged 19.2 points, 6.6 rebounds, two steals, and 1.1 blocks per game as a junior, earning First-team All-Big East honors for the second consecutive season. He declared for the 2022 NBA Draft, forgoing his remaining college eligibility, but went undrafted.
Philadelphia 76ers (2022-2023)
After going undrafted in the 2022 NBA Draft, Champagnie signed a two-way contract with the Philadelphia 76ers on June 24, 2022. He split time between the NBA team and their NBA G League affiliate, the Delaware Blue Coats. He appeared in two games for Philadelphia during his rookie season, recording one steal. On February 14, 2023, the 76ers waived him.
San Antonio Spurs (2023-Present)
On February 16, 2023, the San Antonio Spurs claimed Champagnie off waivers and signed him to a two-way contract. On July 6, 2023, he re-signed with the Spurs. During the 2024-25 NBA season, he appeared in all 82 games for San Antonio, averaging 9.9 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 1.4 assists per game while shooting 45 percent from the field and 39 percent from three-point range.
Notable Events and Milestones
On February 10, 2025, Champagnie faced his twin brother, Justin Champagnie of the Washington Wizards, for the first time in an NBA game when the Spurs faced the Wizards. The brothers are among only a small number of twins who have ever played against each other in an NBA game. On December 31, 2025, Julian Champagnie scored a career-high 36 points in a victory over the New York Knicks, making 11 three-pointers in the game. His 11 made three-pointers tied the Spurs’ single-game franchise record.
Julian Kymani Champagnie Career Highlights
Champagnie has built an impressive resume at both the collegiate and professional levels. His collegiate career at St. John’s was highlighted by consistent excellence and conference recognition. In the NBA, he has continued to develop as a rotation player with the Spurs, setting career highs in scoring and three-point shooting during the 2025-26 season.
College Achievements
Champagnie earned three major Big East Conference honors during his three seasons at St. John’s. He was named to the Big East All-Freshman Team in 2020 after averaging 9.9 points and 6.5 rebounds per game. He followed that with a breakout sophomore season in which he led the Big East in scoring at 19.8 points per game, earning First-team All-Big East and Big East Co-Most Improved Player honors. He repeated as a First-team All-Big East selection as a junior in 2022 while averaging 19.2 points per game.
NBA Highlights
Champagnie’s NBA career took shape with the San Antonio Spurs after brief stints with the Philadelphia 76ers organization. During the 2024-25 season, he appeared in all 82 games with 29 starts, establishing himself as a consistent contributor. His career-high 36-point performance against the New York Knicks on December 31, 2025, showcased his scoring ability and three-point shooting prowess. He has developed into a reliable wing player capable of contributing across multiple statistical categories.
Julian Kymani Champagnie Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Champagnie comes from a family with deep roots in New York and athletic heritage. He is of Jamaican descent through his father, Ranford Champagnie, who grew up in the Bronx after immigrating from Jamaica. His mother is from Carroll Gardens, Brooklyn. His father played soccer for St. John’s University in the mid-1990s and was a member of the 1996 national championship team. Ranford later became a professional soccer coach, serving as head coach for the men’s soccer programs at Baruch College and York College.
Personal Life
Champagnie is a multi-generational New Yorker, raised in Kensington, Brooklyn. He has an identical twin brother, Justin Champagnie, who also plays professional basketball. Justin plays for the Washington Wizards in the NBA. The twins played together at Bishop Loughlin Memorial High School and later faced each other as opponents in the NBA for the first time in February 2025 when San Antonio played Washington. Julian’s father played collegiate soccer at St. John’s during the same era that Julian would later play basketball for the Red Storm.
2025 Season Performance
Champagnie entered the 2024-25 NBA season with increased expectations after a full year of NBA experience. He appeared in all 82 games for San Antonio, averaging 9.9 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 1.4 assists per game while shooting 45 percent from the field and 39 percent from three-point range. His consistency and durability were notable aspects of his season, as he provided reliable production across the Spurs’ rotation.
His standout performance came on December 31, 2025, when he scored a career-high 36 points against the New York Knicks in a victory. He made 11 three-pointers in that game, tying the Spurs’ single-game franchise record. The performance demonstrated his ability to score in bunches and highlighted his development as a perimeter shooter. Looking ahead, Champagnie is positioned to continue as a key contributor in the Spurs’ rotation as the team builds around Victor Wembanyama. His trajectory shows consistent improvement, and his three-point shooting ability makes him a valuable piece for San Antonio’s future.