Dylan Harper is getting tons of love from the NBA talking heads these days. As is his insertion into the San Antonio Spurs starting lineup, which has meant the team's three star guards now share the court more often and do so during pivotal stretches. It's a dynamic that's moved Julian Champagnie to the bench for tip-off.
How has the sharpshooter responded?
He's quietly continuing to prove that he's still a main cog of a team that's already reached a double-digit win streak this early.
Champagnie leads San Antonio in three-point attempts and three-point percentage. And the latter isn't close. The St. John's University product is hitting at a 44% clip from beyond the arc. No other Spur who logs heavy minutes is shooting better than 35.6%
“Sizable. Sizable,” Champagnie responded to ClutchPoints when asked how big the basket looks when he's shooting well.
“My teammates do a really good job of getting me open and finding where I'm at on the court. I always give credit to them. Without them, I'm not making any shots.”
Julian Champagnie focuses on ‘Spurs way'
The Spurs head into a game against the Golden State Warriors on a ten-game winning streak, including a just completed 4-0 road swing. Champagnie has scored double figures in their three most recent victories.
“Whether the ball is going through the hoop or not, our standard stays the same on the way we play, especially defensively; physicality, being connected, knowing the game plan and stuff like that,” Champagnie told ClutchPoints.
“And then, offensively, moving the basketball no matter who's making shots, who's not making shots. I think we've come out and done exactly what we're supposed to do. Hopefully we just continue to build off of it.”
The fifth-year forward is averaging 10.3 points and 6.5 shots from beyond per game. He exploded for 26 points vs. the Sacramento Kings in what served as the Spurs first home win of the season. It marked the Spurs second victory overall, providing a needed moment after losses to the Oklahoma City Thunder and Houston Rockets to start the year.
“I think that the standard that we're setting for ourselves is that we have to start great and that doesn't have to be with points. That doesn't have to be with scoring the basketball. That just means go out there, play defense, finish defensive possessions with rebounds and then get quality shots, whether they go in or they don't go in.”
Article Continues Below"Not playing to our standard"
-Julian Champagnie⬇️"First two games, realized can't just walk into a game feel like we're going to win because we're San Antonio"
-talked w/Devin Vassell about #Spurs matching intensity given their new reality@HalftimePizza Silver & Black Report pic.twitter.com/lZtERJjQlJ— Hector Ledesma (@HectorLedesmaTV) October 26, 2026
Julian Champagnie looks to capitalize of last year's San Antonio Spurs success
It's no coincidence the Spurs took off last season when Champagnie joined the starting lineup. They didn't lose in February. And the 25-year-old forward never left the starting five again during a stretch that kick-started a run that went all the way to the NBA Finals.
“I feel like that was a product of us moving the basketball well and playing to our standard,” Champagnie has reiterated regarding when the team is at its best.
“When you get four or five wide open ones, I think that the next one and the one after that, if they're a little contested, it's a better shot for you. Feels a little different.”
Less than a month into the season, we can't blame the Spurs if this year already feels a little different.