Inside The Panthers

Former Pitt Forward Headed to NBA All-Star Weekend

A former Pitt Panthers forward will play during NBA All-Star Weekend.

Dominic Campbell

Jan 12, 2025; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; Washington Wizards forward Justin Champagnie (9) drives to the basket as Oklahoma City Thunder guard Isaiah Joe (11) defends in the second quarter at Capital One Arena. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images
Jan 12, 2025; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; Washington Wizards forward Justin Champagnie (9) drives to the basket as Oklahoma City Thunder guard Isaiah Joe (11) defends in the second quarter at Capital One Arena. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images / Geoff Burke-Imagn Images
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PITTSBURGH — The Pitt Panthers will have one of their former players at NBA All-Star weekend, as they were honored for their great play this season.

Former Pitt forward Justin Champagnie, who plays for the Washington Wizards, earned a spot in the NBA G League Up Next Game, featuring the best two-way and G League players. The game will take place on Feb. 16 at 3:00 p.m. at the Moscone Center in San Francisco.

Champagnie earned the second-most votes of any two-way or G League player, one of 10 that fans select for the game. The G League selects the remaining 18 players for 28 total players, with 14 on each team.

Champagnie signed a 10-day contract in February 2024 and then a two-way contract that March with the Wizards. A Two-Way contract means that players with three years of experience or less receive one salary for playing in both the NBA and the NBA G-League. These contracts can last one or two seasons.

He played eight games for the Capitol City Go-Go, the G-League team for the Wizards, averaging 36.5 minutes, 20.0 points, 8.6 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 2.4 blocks and 1.1 steals per game in eight contests this season. He also shot 48.7% from the field and 75.0% from the foul line.

Champagnie then started his first game for the Wizards this season at home vs. the Denver Nuggets on Dec. 7, leading his team to their first win since Oct. 30, ending a 16-game losing streak.

He scored a then career-high 23 points, shooting 9-for-13 from the field, 2-for-4 from 3-point range and 3-for-5 from the foul line. He also tied his then career-high with eight rebounds and added two steals and two blocks in 37 minutes of the victory.

Champagnie started the next 12 games, which included a fantastic performance in an overtime home loss, 136-132 to the New York Knicks on Dec. 29.

He scored a team/career-high 31 points and shooting an impressive 13-for-15 from the field and 5-for-6 from 3-point range. He also grabbed 10 rebounds, giving him his second NBA double-double.

Champagnie has averaged 20.0 minutes, 8.0 points, 4.9 rebounds, 1.0 assists and 1.0 steals in 27 games and 13 starts for the Wizards. He has also shot 50.3% from the field, 38.8% from 3-point range and 64.0% fromt the foul line.

Former Pitt star Bub Carrington is also on the Wizards roster, as he came in a trade with the Portland Trail Blazers in the 2024 NBA Draft. The Wizards got the No. 14 pick (Carrington) in a trade that sent Deni Avdija to the Trail Blazers. They also received Malcolm Brogdon, a 2029 First Round pick and two second round picks

Carrington will also join Champagnie at NBA All-Star Weeknd, playing in the Rising Stars Game on Feb. 14, honoring the best rookies and sophomores.

Champagnie had a solid summer league campaign, averaging 13.0 points, 6.0 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 1.3 steals and 1.3 blocks per game, while shooting 56.1% from the field in four contests.

He also played in the preseason and 15 games at the end of last season for Washington, averaging 5.9 points, 3.5 rebounds, 1.3 assists and 15.7 minutes per game.

Champagnie committed to Pitt in the Class of 2019, as a three-star forward out of Bishop Loughlin Memorial High School in Brooklyn, N.Y.

He had a sensational freshman campaign, leading the Panthers with 12.7 points and 7.0 rebounds per game, while shooting 42.1% from the floor and 77.7% from the foul line. He also earned two ACC Freshman of the Week honors and started 27 of the 33 contests he played in.

Champagnie improved even more as a sophomore in the 2020-21 season, leading with 18.0 points and 11.1 rebounds per game, plus shooting 47.7% from the field, 31.1% from 3-point range and 71.1% from the free throw line.

His rebounding numbers led the ACC, which helped earn him First Team All-ACC honors, including three ACC Player of the Week honors too. He also earned an All-American honorable mention, the first Pitt player to do so since guards Ashton Gibbs and Brad Wanamaker did so in 2011.

Champagnie departed for the 2021 NBA Draft, but no team selected him. He spent time with both the Toronto Raptors and Boston Celtics and on their G-League teams, but now with the Wizards, he'll continue taking advantages of the opportunities he has to earn more minutes going forward.

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Dominic Campbell
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