Despite a crowded roster, the versatile forward’s elite rebounding and defensive efficiency make him a vital secret weapon for a Washington team suddenly hungry for meaningful wins.
It felt like every night held something different for Wizards' forward Justin Champagnie. 19 games saw him on the floor for the opening tip. Some, he never got the chance to take off his warmup outfit.
Champagnie on multiple occasions did not participate due to a coaches decision. It's hard to imagine it was because he didn't help the team enough -- he probably helped too much.
Champagnie's 3.1 Win Shares led the entire Wizards' roster in 2025. His unique ability to grab offensive rebound at his size was often staggering. He posted six offensive rebounds in four games last season, with his total rebound total exceeding 10 six times. He's doing this at 6-foot-6.
Champagnie rarely played over 20 minutes a night. The last time he played 30 minutes in a game was December 31st of last season. He's no stranger to adversity. Before joining the Wizards during the 2024 season, his career got off to a slow start.
After the Toronto Raptors gave him a chance, he spent most of his time with Raptors 905, their G-League affiliate. After a full-season with them, he played with the Sioux Falls Skyforce. After soon signing with the Miami Heat, he was waived just days before the season started, so he returned to Sioux Falls.
Finally, in 2024, he joined his third organization, the Washington Wizards, signing a ten-day contract. When he played with the Go-Go, he was named to the All-NBA G-League Second Team.
Eventually, the Wizards required his services. It didn’t take long for them to see something in him. On March 3rd, 2024, he was elevated to a two-way contract. Exactly one year later, he signed a four-year, $9.8 million contract.
Now, he's one of the most impactful players on one of the cheapest contracts. With a lineup now boasting, Trae Young and Anthony Davis, he might not be the top win share player next season, but that doesn't mean his impact can be disregarded.
Understandably, minutes are harder to come by for this Wizards team. This is especially true in their jam-packed wing rotation. Brian Keefe has a challenge on his hands managning where minutes will be for a lot of young talent.
Defense and rebounding is an area Washington has struggled mightily over the last few seasons, perhaps intentionally. However, with that phase in the rear view, it should welcome the prowess he provides.
Champagnie compiled 12 multi-steal games in 2025, including five games where he posted three.
One thing that can help him find minutes in the rotation is his ability to play some small-ball power forward, which he did plenty last season. This could allow minutes for him while Bilal Coulibaly, Kyshawn George, and AJ Dybantsa are on the floor.
Champagnie’s path to the Wizards' most winning player was never easy, and his path to consistent minutes in 2026 will not be either. However, every stop in his career has required him to prove he belongs, and every time, he has responded by impacting the game in ways that are difficult to ignore.
On a roster now filled with more recognizable names and highly drafted prospects, Champagnie may once again be the player who gets overlooked. Yet his rebounding, defensive activity and positional versatility address several of Washington’s biggest needs. Champagnie has already demonstrated that when his opportunity comes, he usually makes it difficult to take him off the floor.
