By Jeff McDonald, Staff Writer | San Antonio Express-News (SAEN), 2024-09-24 12:09:26
由生成式人工智能翻译，译文内容可能不准确或不完整，以原文为准。
2024 年 4 月 14 日，星期日，在圣安东尼奥举行的 NBA 篮球比赛中，圣安东尼奥马刺队前锋朱利安·尚帕尼(Julian Champagnie)（30 号）在上半场对阵底特律活塞队中锋詹姆斯·怀斯曼（13 号）的比赛中上篮得分。(美联社照片/迈克尔·托马斯)
要说 hecklers，朱利安·尚帕尼(Julian Champagnie) 听到过更难听的。尤其是在他的家乡纽约。
今年夏天，这位马刺队前锋在纽约参加了一场职业业余混合赛，情况并不顺利。至少一开始是这样。
尚帕尼在前 6 投中只进了 1 球。当他在第一节休息时走下球场时，看台上一个孤独的、嘲弄的声音从长岛大学的看台上响起：
“你确定你在 NBA 打球吗？”球迷嘲笑道。
“总会有这样的人，”尚帕尼最近在回忆这件事时说。“我当时想，‘好吧，我会解决的。’”
尚帕尼不仅解决了问题，还做得更多。他最终拿下 50 分，其中下半场得到 36 分。
“我想结果还不错，”尚帕尼耸耸肩笑着说。
尚帕尼的 50 分是这个多事之夏的亮点，他还订婚了。他从八年级就认识了他的未婚妻卡西迪。这对夫妇计划明年夏天结婚。
但首先，23 岁的尚帕尼回到了圣安东尼奥，即将迎来他在马刺队的第二个训练营，他渴望在自己已经超出预期的 NBA 生涯中更上一层楼。
“我喜欢成长，”尚帕尼说。“你必须比去年做得更好。每天进步 1% 也是进步。”
进入他的第三个 NBA 赛季，由于马刺队休赛期的阵容升级，尚帕尼的工作描述也该有所改变了。
身高 6 英尺 9 英寸的尚帕尼上赛季在小前锋位置首发了 59 场比赛，在赛季初作为教练格雷格·波波维奇轮换阵容中板凳席末端的球员度过了一段时间后，他在 1 月份被提升到这个位置。
尚帕尼在马刺队效力的两个赛季中首发了 62 场比赛，这已经是他作为落选秀在俱乐部历史上首发次数的第七名。
随着休赛期老将前锋哈里森·巴恩斯从萨克拉门托的到来，传统观点认为尚帕尼在下赛季很可能会回到替补席上。
对于尚帕尼来说——不久前，在被费城 76 人队放弃后，他还怀疑自己是否还能在 NBA 立足——在圣安东尼奥回到替补席上的前景是对“幸福的烦恼”这句话的完美诠释。
“首发很有趣，首发很酷，”尚帕尼说。“但如果我不首发，也没关系。”
如果要回到替补席上，尚帕尼说他期待着在第二阵容中找到自己的位置。他相信此举将有助于他适应与对手的替补球员而不是首发球员对位。
随着马刺队希望在连续两个赛季取得 22 胜后更上一层楼，尚帕尼将不得不与日益拥挤的马刺队替补球员争夺上场时间。
尚帕尼上赛季场均得到 6.8 分，投篮命中率为 40.8%，其中三分球命中率为 36.8%。他的赛季最高得分是 17 分，与今年夏天在耐克纽约职业业余混合赛中战胜对手——由骨头收集者海兰领衔的球队——时得到的 50 分相去甚远。
上赛季的三分球命中率可能需要提高，尚帕尼才能保住轮换阵容的一席之地，他也知道这一点。
“我希望我的投篮数据能有所提高，”尚帕尼说。“我希望我的防守数据能有所提高。我想成为这支球队的关键先生。”
至少，上赛季作为首发球员对尚帕尼的信心很有帮助。
这位圣约翰大学的球员在 2023 年 2 月被 76 人队放弃后，作为赛季末的补充球员加入了马刺队。尚帕尼在 15 场比赛的试用期中表现出色，并在接下来的夏天赢得了一份为期四年、价值 1200 万美元的合同。
尚帕尼来到圣安东尼奥时，还在 wondering 未来会在哪里，但现在他至少已经赢得了一份工作保障。他觉得，即使还没有在这里扎根，但他至少对“属于这里”的想法感到舒服。
“我已经看到了很多东西，”尚帕尼说。“我知道他们对我的期望。我知道防守某个球员意味着什么。我知道如何赢得比赛。我知道失败是什么滋味。我想我对自己的位置有了更好的理解。”
尚帕尼要想像之前那样拿下 50 分还需要一段时间。对于像他这样的角色球员来说，这种表现通常只会在夏季职业业余混合赛的闷热球馆里出现。
至于几个月前在纽约低价座位上有人对他喊出的问题——“你确定你在 NBA 打球吗？”——尚帕尼可以用响亮的“是的”来回答。
对尚帕尼来说，未来的目标是为马刺队打出好成绩，并留在这里。
“我知道他们对我的期望，”尚帕尼说。“我知道他们的目标是什么。我对我们现在的处境以及未来四五年的目标有一个很好的了解。我希望成为其中的一员，所以我会尽我所能做好他们要求我做的一切。然后，让一切顺其自然。”
2024 年 4 月 12 日，星期五，在弗罗斯特银行中心举行的 NBA 比赛的上半场，圣安东尼奥马刺队前锋朱利安·尚帕尼（30 号）试图绕过丹佛掘金队后卫贾斯汀·霍勒迪（9 号）传球。圣安东尼奥以 121-120 击败了丹佛。
俄克拉荷马州俄克拉荷马城 - 4 月 10 日：2024 年 4 月 10 日，在俄克拉荷马州俄克拉荷马城的 Paycom 中心，俄克拉荷马雷霆队的谢伊·吉尔杰斯-亚历山大（2 号）在上半场对阵圣安东尼奥马刺队的朱利安·尚帕尼（30 号）的比赛中投篮。
2024 年 4 月 5 日，星期五，在新奥尔良举行的一场 NBA 篮球比赛中，新奥尔良鹈鹕队后卫 CJ·麦科勒姆（3 号）在上半场对阵圣安东尼奥马刺队前锋朱利安·尚帕尼（30 号）投进三分球后舔了舔嘴唇。(美联社照片/马修·欣顿)
2024 年 3 月 27 日，星期三，在盐湖城举行的一场 NBA 篮球比赛中，犹他爵士队后卫基翁特·乔治（3 号）在上半场对阵圣安东尼奥马刺队前锋朱利安·尚帕尼（30 号）的比赛中投篮。(美联社照片/里克·鲍默)
犹他州盐湖城 - 3 月 27 日：2024 年 3 月 27 日，在犹他州盐湖城的三角洲中心举行的比赛下半场，犹他爵士队的科林·塞克斯顿（2 号）越过圣安东尼奥马刺队的朱利安·尚帕尼（30 号）投篮。用户须知：用户明确承认并同意，下载或使用本照片，即表示用户同意盖蒂图片社许可协议的条款和条件。
2024 年 3 月 25 日，星期一，在德克萨斯州圣安东尼奥的弗罗斯特银行中心，圣安东尼奥马刺队前锋朱利安·尚帕尼（30 号）在上半场对阵菲尼克斯太阳队的比赛中将球送入篮筐。马刺队以 104-102 击败了太阳队。
2024 年 3 月 15 日，星期五，在德克萨斯州奥斯汀的穆迪中心，丹佛掘金队前锋小迈克尔·波特（1 号）在上半场封盖了圣安东尼奥马刺队前锋朱利安·尚帕尼（30 号）。
点击查看原文：Spurs' Julian Champagnie eager to take next step
Spurs’ Julian Champagnie eager to take next step
San Antonio Spurs forward Julian Champagnie (30) goes up for a dunk against Detroit center James Wiseman (13) during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Sunday, April 14, 2024, in San Antonio. (AP Photo/Michael Thomas)
As far as hecklers go, Julian Champagnie had heard worse. Especially in his hometown of New York.
The Spurs forward was playing in a pro-am game this summer in the Big Apple, and things were not going well. At least not at first.
Champagnie started 1 of 6 from the floor. As he came off the court during the first-quarter break, a lone, mocking voice from the bleachers at Long Island University called out:
“Are you sure you’re in the NBA?” the fan jeered.
“There’s always one,” Champagnie said while recalling the story recently. “I was like, ‘Alright, I’ll figure it out.’ ”
Champagnie figured it out and then some. He finished with 50 points, including 36 in the second half.
“I guess it worked out,” Champagnie said with a shrug and a grin.
Champagnie’s 50-spot was the highlight of an eventful summer that also saw him get engaged. He has known his fiancé, Cassidy, since the eighth grade. The couple plans to marry next summer.
But first, the 23-year-old Champagnie is back in San Antonio on the cusp of his second Spurs training camp and eager to take the next step in a fledgling NBA career that has already defied expectation.
“I’m into growth,” Champagnie said. “You’ve got to be better than you were last year. One percent better every day is still progress.”
Entering his third NBA season, Champagnie is due for a change in job description thanks to the Spurs’ offseason roster upgrades.
The 6-foot-9 Champagnie started 59 games at small forward last season, promoted to the role in January after spending the beginning of the season as a deep-bench afterthought in coach Gregg Popovich’s rotation.
The 62 games Champagnie has started in parts of two seasons for the Spurs already mark the seventh-most by an undrafted player in club history.
With the offseason arrival of veteran forward Harrison Barnes from Sacramento, conventional wisdom says Champagnie is likely ticketed for a return to the bench in the season to come.
To Champagnie – who not long ago wondered if he would ever have an NBA career at all after Philadelphia sent him packing – the prospect of moving back to the bench in San Antonio is the definition of the phrase “champagne problems.”
“Starting is fun, starting is cool,” Champagnie said. “But if I’m not starting, it’s OK.”
If a shift to the bench is in the offing, Champagnie said he is looking forward to finding his fit among the second unit. He believes the move could help him as he transitions to playing against opponents’ second teamers instead of starters.
With the Spurs looking to take a step forward following back-to-back 22-win seasons, Champagnie will have to grapple for minutes amongst an increasingly crowded group of competent Spurs reserves.
Champagnie averaged a modest 6.8 points last season, converting 40.8-percent of his shots including 36.8 percent from 3-point range. His season high was 17 points, a bit off the 50 he dumped his Bones Hyland-led opponent in the Nike New York Pro-City pro-am this summer.
Last season’s 3-point percentage will probably need to improve for Champagnie to hold down a rotation spot, and he knows it.
“I want my shooting numbers to go up,” Champagnie said. “I want my defensive numbers to go up. I want to be that guy for this team.”
If nothing else, spending last season as a starter was good for Champagnie’s confidence.
The St. John’s product joined the Spurs as a late-season addition in February 2023 after being waived by the 76ers. Champagnie played well enough in 15-game trial to earn a four-year, $12-million contract the following summer.
Having arrived in San Antonio wondering what would become of his NBA career, Champagnie has earned at least a modicum of job security. He feels, if not ingrained here, at least comfortable in the idea that he belongs.
“I’ve seen a little bit of everything,” Champagnie said. “I know what’s asked of me. I know what it means to guard a certain guy. I know what it takes to win a game. I know what it’s like to lose. I think I have a better understanding of where I need to be at all times.”
It will be a while before Champagnie pops off for another 50 points. For a role player like him, those type of performances are usually reserved for the sweltering gyms of the summertime pro-am circuit.
As for the question shouted at him from the cheap seats in New York a few months ago – “Are you sure you’re in the NBA?” – Champagnie can answer with a resounding “Yes.”
For Champagnie, the goal going forward is to perform well enough for the Spurs to stay there.
“I know what they’re asking of me,” Champagnie said. “I know what they’re shooting for. I have a good overview on where we are now and where we want to be in the next four or five years. I want to be part of it, so I’m going to do everything they ask of me to the best of my ability. And let the chips fall where they fall.”
San Antonio Spurs forward Julian Champagnie (30) looks to pass aroung Denver Nuggets guard Justin Holiday (9) during the first half of their NBA game at the Frost Bank Center on Friday, April 12, 2024. San Antonio beat Denver 121-120.
OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLAHOMA - APRIL 10: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander #2 of the Oklahoma City Thunder puts up a shot over Julian Champagnie #30 of the San Antonio Spurs during the first half at Paycom Center on April 10, 2024 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.
New Orleans Pelicans guard CJ McCollum (3) licks his lips after making a 3-point basket against San Antonio Spurs forward Julian Champagnie (30) during the first half of an NBA basketball game in New Orleans, Friday, April 5, 2024. (AP Photo/Matthew Hinton)
Utah Jazz guard Keyonte George (3) shoots as San Antonio Spurs forward Julian Champagnie (30) defends during the first half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, March 27, 2024, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)
SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH - MARCH 27: Collin Sexton #2 of the Utah Jazz shoots over Julian Champagnie #30 of the San Antonio Spurs during the second half of a game at Delta Center on March 27, 2024 in Salt Lake City, Utah. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement.
San Antonio Spurs forward Julian Champagnie (30) lays the ball into the net during the first half against the Phoenix Suns at Frost Bank Center on Monday, March 25, 2024, in San Antonio, Texas. The Spurs defeated the Suns, 104-102.
Denver Nuggets forward Michael Porter Jr. (1) blocks San Antonio Spurs forward Julian Champagnie (30) from the net during the first half at Moody Center on Friday, March 15, 2024, in Austin, Texas.
By Jeff McDonald, Staff Writer, via San Antonio Express-News