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Spurs' Julian Champagnie Reflects on Austin's Significance
The fourth-year forward ranks the city high on his list of favorite places and has fond memories of a big outing as a rookie at Moody Center.
Feb. 21, 2026 at 7:14pm
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Spurs forward Julian Champagnie has developed a strong affinity for the city of Austin, ranking it among his favorites alongside San Antonio and his hometown of New York. Champagnie has particularly fond memories of playing at Moody Center, where he had one of his first big games as a Spur, scoring 24 points off the bench in a win over the Portland Trail Blazers in 2023. The performance was a major confidence boost for the undrafted rookie out of St. John's as he tried to establish himself in the NBA.
Why it matters
Champagnie's connection to Austin highlights the importance of the Spurs' presence in the city, which has become a special spot for the team and its players. The Moody Center has provided an energetic and supportive environment for the Spurs, helping players like Champagnie gain their footing in the league.
The details
In just his 13th appearance with the Spurs, Champagnie came off the bench to score 24 points on 8-of-14 shooting, including 5 of 9 from 3-point range, to help the Spurs beat the Portland Trail Blazers 129-127 in their first outing at the Moody Center in April 2023. The performance was a major confidence boost for Champagnie as an undrafted rookie trying to establish himself in the NBA.
- Champagnie played a handful of games in the G League as a rookie with the Austin Spurs.
- Champagnie's 24-point performance against the Trail Blazers came on April 6, 2023, the Spurs' first game at the Moody Center.
The players
Julian Champagnie
A fourth-year forward for the San Antonio Spurs who has developed a strong affinity for the city of Austin, ranking it among his favorites alongside San Antonio and his hometown of New York.
Portland Trail Blazers
The opposing team that Champagnie and the Spurs faced in the game at the Moody Center where Champagnie had his breakout performance as a rookie.
What they’re saying
“San Antonio is like San Antonio and then New York is New York and Austin's right in the middle. I like it. It's like a smaller city, but it has things to do with fun, good food. Really good tacos here. And they got some water here too. They got the lakes and stuff, so that works out.”
— Julian Champagnie, Spurs Forward
“It was kind of like the part of my career where I tell myself, 'Well, you could do this. It's not going to be too hard. You can figure it out.'”
— Julian Champagnie, Spurs Forward
The takeaway
Champagnie's connection to Austin highlights the importance of the Spurs' presence in the city, which has become a special spot for the team and its players. The Moody Center has provided an energetic and supportive environment that has helped players like Champagnie gain their footing in the NBA.
