Former Pitt forward Justin Champagnie is having a career year for the struggling Washington Wizards alongside fellow Panther Bub Carrington.
Champagnie joined the Wizards in spring 2024 on a two-way contract. He spent most of last season in the G-League, playing for three different teams. He averaged at least 23 points per game for each of the three teams he played with.
Former Pitt Star Justin Champagnie Signs Two-Way Deal with Washington Wizards
Then, after seeing him thrive in the organization, the Wizards signed him to a ten-day contract with the big-league club.
While on his ten-day deal, he played in three games for the NBA squad in Washington. In game one, he scored seven points on 3-for-3 shooting in just four minutes against the Denver Nuggets. Champagnie then scored four points against the Thunder, and grabbed one rebound in his most last game against the Clippers.
The Wizards lost all three of those games, but liked what they saw.
Former Pitt Star Justin Champagnie Signs Two-Way Deal with Washington Wizards
This season has been a different story. The Wizards have won just five of their 30 game so far this year — and are clearly in the midst of a rebuild. However, Champagnie has stepped into a larger role, and has proven that he can be an effective player at the highest level.
Champagnie has played in 13 games and has started ten. He is averaging 25.8 minutes per game, a career high. He is shooting 54% from the field, and 38% from three-point range — both career highs. Finally, he is averaging career-best rebounds (7) and points (10.5) per game so far. The fourth-year player is only 23 years old, and has begun to catch the attention of those around the league for his strong play.
His brother, Julian Champagnie, is also having a great year in the NBA. He is averaging 12.5 points and 4.9 rebounds per game for the San Antonio Spurs.
Brooklyn’s own, Champagnie played two seasons at Pitt from 2019-21, earning All-ACC honors in 2020-21. He started 46 games in his Panther career, averaging 14.7 points and 8.5 rebounds per game in his collegiate career. In his stellar sophomore campaign, Champagnie averaged 18 points and 11.1 rebounds per game in 20 games. He went un-drafted out of Pitt but has now been on several NBA teams and has shined in the NBA G-League.
Champagnie has also competed for the Boston Celtics and the Toronto Raptors in his young NBA career.
