Justin Champagnie Bio
Justin John Champagnie is an American professional basketball player for the Washington Wizards of the National Basketball Association (NBA). A versatile forward listed at 6 ft 6 in and 206 lb, he plays the shooting guard and small forward positions and wears jersey number 9. Born on June 29, 2001, in New York City, he was raised in Brooklyn and built his game in the city before reaching the NBA.
After starring at Bishop Loughlin Memorial High School and earning First-team All-ACC honors at the University of Pittsburgh, Champagnie signed with the Toronto Raptors as an undrafted free agent in 2021. He has since spent time with Raptors 905, the Boston Celtics, the Sioux Falls Skyforce, and Capital City Go-Go, building a reputation as a high-energy wing. In March 2025, he agreed to a four-year, $10 million contract with the Wizards, confirming his long-term place in the league.
Early Life and Background
Justin John Champagnie was born on June 29, 2001, in New York City, New York, and grew up in the Kensington neighborhood of Brooklyn. His mother’s family is from Carroll Gardens in Brooklyn, while his father, Ranford, grew up in the Bronx after immigrating from Jamaica. The family is multi-generational New York, and Jamaican heritage is part of Justin’s background.
He attended Bishop Loughlin Memorial High School in Brooklyn, where he starred as a senior, averaging 19.8 points per game. His play earned him first-team Class AA All-State honors in New York. Rated a three-star recruit, he turned down offers from Cincinnati, Dayton, Seton Hall, Saint Louis, and Rutgers to commit to Pittsburgh.
Sports were always part of life at home. His father Ranford played soccer at St. John’s University in the mid-1990s and was a member of the 1996 national championship team, later becoming a professional soccer coach at Baruch College and York College. Justin grew up taking the bus to school with future teammate Kadary Richmond, and the two forged a friendship in middle school that has followed them into the pros.
Path to Basketball
Champagnie’s path to college basketball began in Brooklyn, where he developed his versatile two-way game on local courts. His senior year at Bishop Loughlin established him as one of the top scorers in New York, and his recruitment drew attention from Atlantic 10 and Big East programs. Pittsburgh won the battle for his commitment, and he enrolled for the 2019–20 season.
As a true freshman with the Pittsburgh Panthers, Champagnie led the team in scoring and rebounding, posting 12.7 points and 7 rebounds per game. He was named the CBS Sports and USBWA National Freshman of the Week and the ACC Freshman of the Week after averaging 25 points and 10 rebounds against Notre Dame and Georgia Tech. A knee injury in December 2020 sidelined him for at least six weeks, but he returned to post 31 points and 14 rebounds in a 79–73 win over Duke on January 19, 2021.
He closed his freshman season with First-team All-ACC honors and grew as a sophomore, averaging 18 points, 11.1 rebounds, 1.6 assists, 1.3 steals, and 1.3 blocks per game. After two seasons at Pittsburgh, Champagnie declared for the 2021 NBA draft, forgoing his remaining college eligibility to begin his professional career.
Justin Champagnie Career
Early Career (2021–2022)
After going undrafted in the 2021 NBA draft, Justin Champagnie signed a two-way contract with the Toronto Raptors on August 7, 2021. He split his time between the Raptors and their G League affiliate, Raptors 905, learning the professional game and adjusting to a faster, more physical style of play.
On November 1, 2021, he made his NBA debut with the Raptors, scoring his first two points on free throws in a win against the New York Knicks. In Toronto, he was mentored by All-NBA forward Pascal Siakam, whom he credits as a big brother figure in his early NBA years. On July 14, 2022, he re-signed with the Raptors on a two-year deal, but was waived on December 29 of that year.
G League Years (2023–2024)
On January 10, 2023, Champagnie was claimed off waivers by the Sioux Falls Skyforce of the NBA G League, beginning a stretch focused on consistent playing time. He earned a brief NBA opportunity when he signed with the Boston Celtics on April 7, 2023, though he was waived on July 31 of that same year.
Champagnie signed with the Miami Heat on August 11, 2023, but was waived on October 21, 2023, before the regular season began. He returned to the Sioux Falls Skyforce days later, where his strong play earned him an All-NBA G League Second Team selection in 2024. That recognition helped set the stage for his next NBA chance.
Washington Wizards Era (2024–Present)
On February 22, 2024, Justin Champagnie signed a 10-day contract with the Washington Wizards, converting it to a two-way deal on March 3, 2024. He also spent time with the Wizards’ G League affiliate, Capital City Go-Go, continuing to develop his two-way game while contributing at the NBA level.
On February 10, 2025, he played against his identical twin brother Julian, who plays for the San Antonio Spurs, becoming part of a very small group of twins to face each other in an NBA game. On March 2, 2025, the Wizards and Champagnie agreed to a four-year, $10 million contract, locking him in as a core part of their rebuild. He is expected to be a steady wing presence in Washington through the 2027–2028 season.
Driving Style and Strengths
Champagnie is best known for his energy, rebounding, and defensive versatility as a 6’6 wing. He crashes the glass at a high level for his position, uses his length to disrupt passing lanes, and finishes through contact around the rim. On offense, he thrives in transition, cuts hard off the ball, and knocks down open looks from the midrange and beyond the arc.
Notable Events and Milestones
His first NBA points came on free throws against the New York Knicks on November 1, 2021. His 31-point, 14-rebound performance against Duke in January 2021 announced his arrival as a college star, while his All-NBA G League Second Team nod in 2024 marked his professional breakthrough. The February 10, 2025, matchup with twin brother Julian in a Wizards–Spurs game stands as one of the most memorable moments of his career to date.
Justin Champagnie Career Wins
Justin Champagnie’s career is still in its early stages, and his individual win totals continue to grow as a rotation player with the Washington Wizards. Across the NBA regular season, his win counts vary by team and year, while his G League numbers with Raptors 905, the Sioux Falls Skyforce, and Capital City Go-Go have built his case as a reliable pro.
NBA and G League Highlights
Champagnie’s first NBA points came against the New York Knicks on November 1, 2021, during his rookie year with the Toronto Raptors. He went on to spend time with the Boston Celtics in 2023, and has since carved out a consistent role with the Washington Wizards, contributing as a wing off the bench. His All-NBA G League Second Team selection in 2024 highlighted his dominance at that level with the Sioux Falls Skyforce.
Other Wins and Performances
In college, Champagnie helped lead Pittsburgh to several notable wins, including a 79–73 victory over Duke on January 19, 2021, in which he posted 31 points and 14 rebounds. He earned First-team All-ACC honors as a freshman and grew into one of the conference’s most productive two-way players as a sophomore, averaging a double-double before declaring for the 2021 NBA draft.
Justin Champagnie Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Justin Champagnie comes from a multi-generational New York family with deep roots in the city. His mother’s family is from Carroll Gardens in Brooklyn, and his father, Ranford, grew up in the Bronx after immigrating from Jamaica. Ranford played college soccer at St. John’s University in the mid-1990s and was part of the 1996 national championship team, later coaching men’s soccer at Baruch College and York College.
Personal Life
Justin’s identical twin brother, Julian Champagnie, is also an NBA player, currently with the San Antonio Spurs. On February 10, 2025, the twins played against each other for the first time in an NBA game when the Wizards faced the Spurs, joining a very small group of twins to share that milestone. Justin grew up in Kensington, Brooklyn, and remains tied to the city that shaped his game.
2025 Season Performance
Justin Champagnie’s 2024–25 NBA season has been defined by a steady rise within the Washington Wizards rotation and a long-term commitment from the franchise. After signing a two-way deal in early 2024, he worked his way into a consistent role as a wing, providing rebounding, defense, and transition scoring for a young Wizards team. On March 2, 2025, he and the Wizards agreed to a four-year, $10 million contract, a major vote of confidence in his development.
One of the defining moments of his 2025 season came on February 10, 2025, when he faced twin brother Julian and the San Antonio Spurs, an experience he has described as a career highlight. He continued to split time between the Wizards and their G League affiliate, Capital City Go-Go, refining his shot selection and on-ball defense. His All-NBA G League Second Team pedigree from 2024 carried over into more reliable NBA minutes in 2025.
Looking ahead, Champagnie is expected to remain a key part of Washington’s wing rotation through the 2027–2028 season as the team continues its rebuild. With his energy, versatility, and rebounding, he fits the modern NBA mold of a long, switchable defender who can also finish in transition. His 2025 season sets the foundation for a larger offensive role in the years to come.
