The San Antonio Spurs are turning heads across the league-and not just because of Victor Wembanyama’s otherworldly play. With the second-best record in the Western Conference, this team isn’t just ahead of schedule; they’re looking like a legitimate contender.
Wembanyama is playing like an MVP, Stephon Castle and De’Aaron Fox are flashing All-NBA potential, and Keldon Johnson has become the heartbeat of one of the league’s most productive bench units. Toss in Mitch Johnson making a strong case for Coach of the Year, and suddenly the Spurs are no longer the team of the future-they're a problem right now.
But even the best teams have their cracks, and for San Antonio, one is becoming increasingly hard to ignore.
A Clear Weak Link in the Starting Five
Harrison Barnes, once a steady veteran presence, is struggling-badly. Since Christmas, his production has fallen off a cliff.
He’s averaging just 6.3 points per game on a rough 24.6% shooting clip, and his defense hasn’t been able to cover for the offensive drought. On a team with championship aspirations, that kind of inefficiency from a starter is a liability.
The Spurs have the talent, the depth, and the momentum, but they can’t afford to carry dead weight in the starting lineup-not when the margins are this thin in the West.
The Case for Champagnie
Enter Julian Champagnie, who’s quietly earning more than just a spot in the rotation-he’s making a case for a permanent place in the starting five. Over the same stretch that’s seen Barnes struggle, Champagnie has been thriving. He’s averaging 15.1 points and knocking down 40.9% of his threes, bringing the kind of floor spacing and offensive punch that this starting unit desperately needs.
Size-wise, Champagnie isn’t a traditional power forward, but with Wembanyama patrolling the paint, the Spurs can afford to go a little smaller at the four. And it’s not like Champagnie is getting pushed around-he’s still grabbing 7.5 rebounds per game, a number that speaks to his activity and effort on both ends.
He’s not just filling in; he’s elevating the team.
A Lineup Built to Win Now
Looking ahead, once Devin Vassell returns from injury, the ideal starting five starts to take shape: Fox, Castle, Vassell, Champagnie, and Wembanyama. That group gives San Antonio a blend of ball-handling, shooting, switchable defense, and elite rim protection. On paper-and increasingly, on the court-that’s a lineup that can hang with anyone.
Meanwhile, the bench doesn’t suffer. Keldon Johnson continues to thrive in a Sixth Man role, Dylan Harper is showing flashes, and Luke Kornet provides size and rim protection. It’s a rotation built for playoff basketball, with the flexibility to adapt to different matchups.
The Barnes Dilemma
Barnes’ struggles aren’t just a cold streak-they’re a trend. And with his contract set to expire this summer, it’s hard to envision a future where the Spurs prioritize bringing him back, especially with younger, more dynamic options already on the roster. Carter Bryant is starting to find his rhythm, and Jeremy Sochan-though currently on the outside looking in-remains a versatile defensive piece who can impact games in the right matchups.
Mitch Johnson has done an excellent job managing this young, talented group, but at some point, the minutes have to reflect the production. Giving Barnes 25 minutes a night while Champagnie continues to outplay him doesn’t just hurt the team-it sends the wrong message to a roster full of hungry, emerging talent.
The Bottom Line
The Spurs are in a rare position: young, deep, and already winning. But if they want to make a serious push this season-and all signs suggest they do-they can’t afford to let sentiment or seniority get in the way of putting their best five on the floor.
Julian Champagnie is earning his spot. It’s time to give it to him.