On Sunday, one of the best Pitt basketball players in program history, Justin Champagnie, made his long-awaited NBA Summer League debut.
Champagnie logged just over 15 minutes on the floor, entering the game off the bench with 4:40 left in the first quarter. He then went on to finish with ten points on 4-for-7 shooting, including 2 for 4 from three-point range. He also added two assists, one block, and one steal in the Raptors’ 10-point victory.
The former Pitt star showcased an improved outside shooting game, opening the contest by nailing his first two three-point attempts. In the second frame, Champagnie got back to what he does best: slashing down the lane, attacking the rim, and finishing inside.
“I love this kid,” ESPN analyst Fran Fraschilla said about Champagnie on the broadcast. “You have a two-way contract, which means the team, he will be in the G League with the 905s, and he will also spend time with the big club. Justin Champagnie is going to be an NBA player. Trust me on this. Don’t worry that he didn’t get drafted. He is so much in the mold of a young PJ Tucker, Torrey Craig, Royce O’Neal, who starts for the Jazz. I am a huge fan of this kid. He is undersized, he’s got to continue to improve his outside shooting, but he is a jumping jack. He has a nose for the ball. I guarantee you that this kid will make the roster someday.”
Champagnie cooled down from outside after hitting his first two from deep, but overall looked comfortable hovering around the three-point arch on offense.
“That is critical,” Fraschilla said after Champagnie knocked down his first three. “This is a kid who averaged 18 and 11 in the ACC. Outside shooting is going to be the key.”
“He is exactly the kind of guy that stays on a roster for a long time,” Fraschilla added near the end of the contest.
Champagnie’s next summer league contest will take place on on Aug. 11, when the Raptors are slated to face the Golden State Warriors at 8 p.m. on ESPN2.
Watched this game and Champagnie looked good. Shooting, defending, working with other players. For a first game, he looked experienced.