Victor Wembanyama is continuing his standout rise, set to make his NBA Finals debut just three years into his professional career. As the San Antonio Spurs seek to capitalize on the Wembanyama era, maintaining the strength and stability of the superstar big man’s supporting cast remains essential.
Victor Wembanyama Era Gains Momentum as Spurs Near Crucial Contract Decision
While Wembanyama has been phenomenal, the Spurs have also garnered praise for surrounding him with the right structure. Their decision to claim Julian Champagnie off waivers from the Philadelphia 76ers in 2023 wasn’t originally part of any long-term plan built around Wembanyama, considering the French phenom hadn’t yet been drafted at that point.
However, Champagnie’s arrival ended up fitting perfectly into San Antonio’s broader development model, which helped establish the foundation for Wembanyama’s rise. The Spurs may continue reaping the benefits, as ESPN’s Brian Windhorst reported this week that they could decline Champagnie’s team option for the 2026-27 season before re-signing him to a “better” long-term contract.
Windhorst discussed the situation on “The Hoop Collective” podcast, where ESPN’s Tim MacMahon also explained why retaining the undrafted forward could be crucial to the franchise’s future.
“The Spurs are going to the Finals primarily because they drafted three absolute studs with very high lottery picks in back-to-back-to-back drafts,” MacMahon said. “They will be the last team for at least a while, maybe forever, that’s able to do that, depending on what happens with the lottery in a few years. But guys like Champagnie, these developmental success stories that become essential role players, are critical on any championship team.”
There is speculation by @WindhorstESPN that S.A. will decline @JulianChampagn2‘s 1-year team option and re-sign him to a longer term deal.
Spurs have been preparing for all outcomes, including looking closely at other players within their own development system all season long. pic.twitter.com/tQe0jrN9oJ
— SpursRΞPORTΞR (@SpursReporter) June 1, 2026
The discussion comes amid Champagnie’s incredible playoff run, as he has been a frequent savior for San Antonio. The 24-year-old sharpshooter erupted for 20 points while going 6-for-11 from 3-point range in Game 7 of the Western Conference finals against the Oklahoma City Thunder, helping lift the Spurs to a 111-103 road win over the defending champions.
Wembanyama himself has publicly acknowledged how vital Champagnie’s contributions have been, crediting him as a key reason the Spurs have been able to reach the Finals. Champagnie appeared in all 82 regular-season games in the 2025-26 campaign, starting 68, and averaged 11.1 points and 5.8 rebounds per contest.
Champagnie hasn’t missed a game across his last two seasons and has already exceeded expectations relative to his contract. His team option for the 2026-27 season is valued at $3 million, marking the final year of the bargain four-year, $12 million deal he signed in 2023.
However, the main focus for Champagnie and the Spurs is now on the Finals. The Spurs are back on the NBA’s biggest stage for the first time since 2014 and will open Game 1 on Wednesday against the New York Knicks, who will enter riding an 11-game postseason winning streak.
