Julian Champagnie is a fascinating figure in the 2026 NBA Finals, being the only player in the series who grew up in New York and then went to college in New York, and now plays for the San Antonio Spurs. Champagnie is emerging as a valuable sharpshooter who was overlooked initially after going undrafted and being waived by the Philadelphia 76ers to begin his NBA career. He had five 3-pointers before halftime in the opener when the Spurs were at their best, on the heels of a strong performance in Game 7 of the Western Conference finals against the Oklahoma City Thunder. Champagnie is from the Kensington neighborhood in Brooklyn, New York, and went to high school at Bishop Laughlin in Brooklyn. He has a twin brother, Justin, who also plays in the NBA for the Washington Wizards. Julian Champagnie is listed at 6-foot-7 and 217 pounds on the Spurs roster and wears jersey No. 30. Champagnie stayed close to home in New York for college basketball by playing three seasons at St. John's. He signed a 4-year, $12-million contract in June 2023 after joining the team during the 2022-23 season off waivers as a two-way player. The deal features a team option for the 2026-27 season at a $3 million salary. Champagnie averaged a career-best 11.1 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 1.5 assists per game while shooting better than 38% from 3-point range during the 2025-26 regular season. He's averaging 11.5 points, 6 rebounds, and 1.5 assists per game on 40.2% 3-point shooting in the 2026 NBA playoffs. Champagnie and the Spurs return to the court at Frost Bank Center for Game 2 of the NBA Finals against the Knicks, with San Antonio looking to even the best-of-seven series at one game apiece after New York took Game 1 on the road. Though the 24-year-old cooled off in the second half, he again proved to be a weapon for the Spurs. I have a lot of friends who are New York fans and I would love to spoil their plans, Champagnie told reporters before the NBA Finals began. With his strong performance, Julian Champagnie is making a name for himself in the NBA and could be a key player in the Spurs' quest for an NBA championship.