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Following the San Antonio Spurs' 130-103 dismantling of the still-winless Sacramento Kings on Tuesday night, Julian Champagnie credited the team's unusual roster stability for his sharpshooting performance. The fifth-year forward came off the bench to pour in a season-high 26 points, connecting on 8 of 13 attempts from 3-point range in just 25 minutes of action.
Champagnie noted that his teammates consistently locate open shooters, a dynamic that benefited both him and Victor Wembanyama, who posted a season-best 29 points on 14-of-21 shooting from the field. "They do a good job of finding both of us when you're open," Champagnie remarked. He further explained that the group's cohesion has developed over the past couple of years, with everyone understanding each other's preferred spots on the floor. "We've grown the chemistry and grown the relationships," he added. "I think it's a product of that."
General manager Brian Wright ensured the Spurs entered the 2026-27 campaign as the NBA's most intact team after the young squad reached the NBA Finals last season. From Wembanyama down to No. 4 guard Jordan McLaughlin, San Antonio returned an average of 96.2% of last season's minutes, points, starts, and win shares, according to rotogrinders.com. Head coach Mitch Johnson emphasized that the front office deliberately prioritized continuity. "We wanted a lot of people to be back because of what we experienced last year," Johnson said.
Champagnie's six 3-pointers in the second quarter tied a franchise record, and his eight first-half triples matched his own mark set last New Year's Eve against New York, a game in which he finished with a club-record 11 3-pointers. The Spurs' season-high 35 assists further illustrated their offensive harmony, with four starters dishing out five or more assists, led by Devin Vassell's season-high eight.
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Johnson highlighted the team's improved awareness of riding the hot hand, a facet he believes has matured over the past four years. "The thing that was good to see is our team did a good job of recognizing where he was once he got going," Johnson said. "We've had some time in the past four years where we've done a poor job of that. And not intentionally. I think we've grown in that aspect a little bit. Tonight was an example of that." The Spurs' ability to consistently find Champagnie and Wembanyama in rhythm underscores how continuity has translated into tangible on-court execution.
Originally reported by yahoo.