Latest news with #Champagnie
Yahoo
16-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
WATCH: Spurs Celebrate Players for Breaking 24-Season Drought
In the NBA, it's rare for a player to suit up in all 82 games. This season, only 11 players managed to do it, although three of them played for the San Antonio Spurs. Chris Paul, Julian Champagnie, and Harrison Barnes all accomplished the "Iron Man" feat this season. Paul had done it once before, during the 2014-15 season. Champagnie has never done it before, and Barnes has now done it four times, including three in a row. Advertisement It was the first time the Spurs had three iron men since Tim Duncan, Antonio Daniels, and Malik Rose did it in 2001-2002. After their last game, a win over the Toronto Raptors, the Spurs presented the trio with custom "82" jerseys. Paul became the only player in his 20th season to play in all 82 games, and is the second oldest player, behind only John Stockton, to start in 82 games. Michael Jordan was a year older than Paul when he accomplished the feat with the Washington Wizards, but he came off the bench in 15 of those contests. Champagnie and Barnes are both under contract next season, and each is a key wing in the Spurs' rotation. Paul is an unrestricted free agent, and if he decides not to retire, it's expected that he will return to the Spurs, who have room in their rotation to give him minutes. Advertisement If Paul does return, he will likely come off the bench behind both De'Aaron Fox and Stephon Castle. Castle, notably, played in 81 games in his rookie season. Check out the Inside the Spurs home page for more news, analysis, and must-read articles. Related: Victor Wembanyama Rivals LeBron James, Stpehen Curry for Unique NBA Stat Related: Hakeem Olajuwon Had a Perfect Response to Victor Wembanyama's Request
Yahoo
02-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Fantasy Basketball Waiver Wire: Nickeil Alexander-Walker saves the day
Tuesday's matchup between the Timberwolves and Nuggets was critical regarding the Western Conference standings. While Denver is looking to make a run at the two-seed, Minnesota hopes to avoid the play-in tournament. The two teams combined to stage an instant classic, with the visiting Timberwolves winning 140-139 on two SG/SF Nickeil Alexander-Walker (seven percent rostered, Yahoo! leagues) free throws with one-tenth of a second remaining in double overtime. The free throws capped a big night for Alexander-Walker, who finished with 26 points, seven rebounds, eight assists, two blocks and five three-pointers in 45 minutes. While he remained in a bench role, the absences of Naz Reid and Donte DiVincenzo (both were suspended) raised Alexander-Walker's fantasy ceiling. He made the most of his opportunity, and Minnesota is now tied with Memphis for sixth in the West. Advertisement Reid and DiVincenzo were only suspended for one game, so they'll be available for Thursday's game against the Nets. That doesn't help Alexander-Walker managers, but there may be additional minutes due to the competition. Minnesota ends its week with games against two teams (Brooklyn and Philadelphia) focused more on improving their draft lottery odds than racking up wins. Let's look at a few of Tuesday's other low-rostered standouts: PG Ryan Rollins (13%), Milwaukee Bucks Rollins had the best night of his NBA career, finishing Tuesday's win over the Suns with 23 points, five rebounds, five assists, two steals and five three-pointers in 31 minutes. Shooting 8-of-10 from the field, he established career highs in points and three-pointers. With Damian Lillard (calf) out indefinitely and the Bucks playing three games in the final four days of Week 22, there's no reason not to roll the dice on Rollins now that he's serving as the starting point guard. Advertisement SF/PF Julian Champagnie (12%), San Antonio Spurs Champagnie was solid in Tuesday's loss to the Magic, finishing with 19 points, four rebounds, two assists and five three-pointers in 32 minutes. While he was not Jeremy Sochan's replacement in the starting lineup, Sochan's absence due to back spasms raised Champagnie's fantasy ceiling. With Sochan not expected to play in Wednesday's game against the Nuggets, it would be a good idea to add Julian ahead of that contest. Bismack Biyombo (three percent) returned to the starting lineup and finished with an 11/5/1/1/2 in 26 minutes, but Champagnie is the superior streamer. PG/SG/SF Grayson Allen (11%), Phoenix Suns The Suns were without Bradley Beal and Kevin Durant on Tuesday, with the latter sidelined for at least one week. Allen moved into the starting lineup and provided valuable offensive production, finishing the loss to Milwaukee with 23 points, four rebounds, three assists, one steal and six three-pointers in 34 minutes. Allen shot 6-of-13 from beyond the arc, and the shots will continue to be there as long as Durant and Beal are sidelined. The lone negative is the upcoming schedule, as the Suns don't play again until Friday against the Celtics. Advertisement C Mitchell Robinson (10%), New York Knicks With Karl-Anthony Towns (knee) ruled out, Robinson received the starting nod on his 27th birthday. The Knicks center only needed 21 minutes to record 14 points, 14 rebounds, one steal and two blocked shots. Robinson shot 5-of-9 from the field and 4-of-4 from the foul line in his best performance of the season. Robinson has yet to play both games of a back-to-back this season, so he may not be available for Wednesday's game against the Cavaliers. However, his only playing 21 minutes may keep the door cracked open ever so slightly. SG Ja'Kobe Walter (6%), Toronto Raptors Walter started Tuesday's game because the Raptors held out RJ Barrett (rest), and the rookie had a good night in the loss to Chicago. In 27 minutes, he accounted for 17 points, four rebounds, four assists, one steal and five three-pointers. Walter was 5-of-5 from deep, and it isn't difficult to envision his playing time increasing. Tuesday's defeat eliminated Toronto from postseason contention, so there's even less reason to play guys like Barrett, Immanuel Quickley and Jakob Poeltl (Scottie Barnes is held to a different availability standard by the league due to his being an All-Star) down the stretch. Advertisement PG/SF Talen Horton-Tucker (0%), Chicago Bulls Horton-Tucker wasn't on anyone's fantasy radar before Tuesday, and with good reason. However, the Bulls were down multiple rotation guards, and he played 32 minutes against the Raptors. THT finished with 27 points, six rebounds, three assists and three three-pointers, shooting 8-of-16 from the field. There's no need to add him in the aftermath of this performance. Also, there's hope that Lonzo Ball will be able to return from his wrist injury as soon as Friday. That said, while Horton-Tucker should not be added, he deserved a mention after his performance against the Raptors.

NBC Sports
02-04-2025
- Sport
- NBC Sports
Fantasy Basketball Waiver Wire: Nickeil Alexander-Walker saves the day
Tuesday's matchup between the Timberwolves and Nuggets was critical regarding the Western Conference standings. While Denver is looking to make a run at the two-seed, Minnesota hopes to avoid the play-in tournament. The two teams combined to stage an instant classic, with the visiting Timberwolves winning 140-139 on two SG/SF Nickeil Alexander-Walker (seven percent rostered, Yahoo! leagues) free throws with one-tenth of a second remaining in double overtime. The free throws capped a big night for Alexander-Walker, who finished with 26 points, seven rebounds, eight assists, two blocks and five three-pointers in 45 minutes. While he remained in a bench role, the absences of Naz Reid and Donte DiVincenzo (both were suspended) raised Alexander-Walker's fantasy ceiling. He made the most of his opportunity, and Minnesota is now tied with Memphis for sixth in the West. Reid and DiVincenzo were only suspended for one game, so they'll be available for Thursday's game against the Nets. That doesn't help Alexander-Walker managers, but there may be additional minutes due to the competition. Minnesota ends its week with games against two teams (Brooklyn and Philadelphia) focused more on improving their draft lottery odds than racking up wins. Let's look at a few of Tuesday's other low-rostered standouts: PG Ryan Rollins (13%), Milwaukee Bucks Rollins had the best night of his NBA career, finishing Tuesday's win over the Suns with 23 points, five rebounds, five assists, two steals and five three-pointers in 31 minutes. Shooting 8-of-10 from the field, he established career highs in points and three-pointers. With Damian Lillard (calf) out indefinitely and the Bucks playing three games in the final four days of Week 22, there's no reason not to roll the dice on Rollins now that he's serving as the starting point guard. SF/PF Julian Champagnie (12%), San Antonio Spurs Champagnie was solid in Tuesday's loss to the Magic, finishing with 19 points, four rebounds, two assists and five three-pointers in 32 minutes. While he was not Jeremy Sochan's replacement in the starting lineup, Sochan's absence due to back spasms raised Champagnie's fantasy ceiling. With Sochan not expected to play in Wednesday's game against the Nuggets, it would be a good idea to add Julian ahead of that contest. Bismack Biyombo (three percent) returned to the starting lineup and finished with an 11/5/1/1/2 in 26 minutes, but Champagnie is the superior streamer. PG/SG/SF Grayson Allen (11%), Phoenix Suns The Suns were without Bradley Beal and Kevin Durant on Tuesday, with the latter sidelined for at least one week. Allen moved into the starting lineup and provided valuable offensive production, finishing the loss to Milwaukee with 23 points, four rebounds, three assists, one steal and six three-pointers in 34 minutes. Allen shot 6-of-13 from beyond the arc, and the shots will continue to be there as long as Durant and Beal are sidelined. The lone negative is the upcoming schedule, as the Suns don't play again until Friday against the Celtics. C Mitchell Robinson (10%), New York Knicks With Karl-Anthony Towns (knee) ruled out, Robinson received the starting nod on his 27th birthday. The Knicks center only needed 21 minutes to record 14 points, 14 rebounds, one steal and two blocked shots. Robinson shot 5-of-9 from the field and 4-of-4 from the foul line in his best performance of the season. Robinson has yet to play both games of a back-to-back this season, so he may not be available for Wednesday's game against the Cavaliers. However, his only playing 21 minutes may keep the door cracked open ever so slightly. SG Ja'Kobe Walter (6%), Toronto Raptors Walter started Tuesday's game because the Raptors held out RJ Barrett (rest), and the rookie had a good night in the loss to Chicago. In 27 minutes, he accounted for 17 points, four rebounds, four assists, one steal and five three-pointers. Walter was 5-of-5 from deep, and it isn't difficult to envision his playing time increasing. Tuesday's defeat eliminated Toronto from postseason contention, so there's even less reason to play guys like Barrett, Immanuel Quickley and Jakob Poeltl (Scottie Barnes is held to a different availability standard by the league due to his being an All-Star) down the stretch. PG/SF Talen Horton-Tucker (0%), Chicago Bulls Horton-Tucker wasn't on anyone's fantasy radar before Tuesday, and with good reason. However, the Bulls were down multiple rotation guards, and he played 32 minutes against the Raptors. THT finished with 27 points, six rebounds, three assists and three three-pointers, shooting 8-of-16 from the field. There's no need to add him in the aftermath of this performance. Also, there's hope that Lonzo Ball will be able to return from his wrist injury as soon as Friday. That said, while Horton-Tucker should not be added, he deserved a mention after his performance against the Raptors.

NBC Sports
27-03-2025
- Sport
- NBC Sports
Fantasy Basketball Waiver Wire: Tristian Vukcevic and Justin Champagnie flourish for the Wizards
For fantasy managers, seeking out low-rostered value at this point in the season can either be invigorating or painful. More often than that, teams focused on the draft lottery and developing their young players. The Wizards certainly qualify, and two players stood out during their win in Philadelphia on Wednesday. Tristan Vukcevic (12%) played 23 minutes off the bench, finishing with 17 points, six rebounds, two assists, one steal and two blocks. Over the past two weeks, he has offered top-75 value in nine-cat formats, averaging 13.8 points, 4.8 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 0.8 steals, 1.3 blocks and 1.7 three-pointers per game. The other low-rostered Wizard to play well on Wednesday was Justin Champagnie (11%), who started due to the absences of Khris Middleton and Kyshawn George. Champagnie took advantage of his 22 minutes, finishing with 18 points, 10 rebounds, one assist, one steal and four three-pointers. Over the past two weeks, he has been a top-100 player in nine-cat formats. Like Vukcevic, Champagnie does not need to log heavy minutes to offer tangible fantasy value. Also, the Wizards are low enough in the standings that there should not be too much damage to their draft lottery chances if the team goes on a run. Let's look at a few more of Wednesday's low-rostered standouts: SF Justin Edwards (36%), Philadelphia 76ers A fifth-round player in eight-cat formats over the past two weeks, Edwards continues to offer solid value. The rookie wing finished Wednesday's loss to the Wizards with 19 points, 10 rebounds, one assist, five steals and one three-pointer in 36 minutes. With Paul George done for the season and Kelly Oubre Jr. still out, now is an excellent time to add Edwards. And Philadelphia's upcoming schedule is solid, as they'll play two more games during Week 21. The lone concern would be the 76ers sitting Edwards for one of those contests, as the team has a Saturday/Sunday back-to-back. However, the rookie may be one of the players the team is willing to use for both games. PF/C Al Horford (31%), Boston Celtics The Celtics played Wednesday's game in Phoenix without Jayson Tatum, who was sidelined by a sprained ankle. That opened up a place in the starting lineup for Horford, who rose to the challenge in Boston's 30-point victory. Horford shot 5-of-10 from the field and 4-of-4 from the foul line, finishing with 16 points, 10 rebounds, five assists, one steal, two blocks and two three-pointers. Over the past two weeks, he has offered top-100 value in nine-cat formats. That isn't great, but it would be good enough if Tatum is not back for Saturday's game in San Antonio. C Orlando Robinson (10%), Toronto Raptors With Jakob Poeltl resting, Robinson made his first start since March 10 on Wednesday. And the Raptors center was outstanding in Brooklyn, finishing with 23 points, 12 rebounds, three assists, one block and one three-pointer in just 24 minutes. While it was effectively a timeshare between Robinson and Jonathan Mogbo (16/7/5/1/1 in 24 minutes), the former proved more valuable on Wednesday. That said, Mogbo (two percent rostered) should remain on the deep-league radar as the Raptors complete their season. SF/PF Peyton Watson (7%), Denver Nuggets While Aaron Gordon's return to the Nuggets' lineup consigned Watson to the bench on Wednesday, he still logged 34 minutes in a win over the Bucks. Shooting 6-of-8 from the field, he tallied 12 points, seven rebounds, two assists and three blocked shots. With Gordon only playing 19 minutes on Wednesday, Watson may pick up additional playing time, especially if the starter's lower body injuries remain problematic. PG Ryan Rollins (1%), Milwaukee Bucks Rollins was removed from the Bucks' starting lineup for Wednesday's game, with Kevin Porter Jr. (11 percent) stepping in. The change may have benefitted Rollins, as he finished the loss to Denver with 17 points, one rebound, three assists, two steals and two three-pointers in just 18 minutes. As much of a fantasy liability as Rollins has been this season, Damian Lillard's calf issue means there is still room for him to have an impact. And the Bucks still have two games on their schedule for Week 21, starting with the Knicks on Friday. PG Tyler Kolek (0%), New York Knicks Kolek has recorded 24 assists in his last three games with only one turnover. The rookie guard doesn't offer much value as a scorer, but Tom Thibodeau may be forced to play him more out of necessity. Jalen Brunson and Miles McBride are already out due to injury, and Cameron Payne sprained his ankle during the first half of Wednesday's loss to the Clippers. As a result, Kolek played 18 minutes off the bench. The Knicks still have games against the Bucks and Trail Blazers on their Week 21 schedule, so watch for the injury report.
Yahoo
03-03-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Wizards sign F Justin Champagnie to a multi-year contract after he'd been on a 2-way deal
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Washington Wizards have signed forward Justin Champagnie to a multi-year contract. The move, announced Monday by the Wizards, comes a year after Champagnie signed a two-way contract with the team. He's averaged 7.1 points, 4.3 rebounds and 1.0 assists per game in 55 appearances with the Wizards. In 40 games (15 starts) this season, the 23-year-old Champagnie is averaging career highs in points (7.5), rebounds (4.6), field-goal percentage (.504) and 3-point percentage (.376). Champagnie was also picked to participate in the G League Up Next Game as part of the NBA's All-Star weekend last month. Washington released forward Jalen McDaniels from his 10-day contract. ___ AP NBA: The Associated Press