Given his hard-nosed history, it's no surprise Champagnie is one of three players to appear in all of the Spurs' 37 games this season. And it may not be a coincidence that one of the club's other iron men, Harrison Barnes, is, like Champagnie, a devoted user of the stationary bike to stay warm while off the court during games.

The San Antonio Spurs (19-20) will host the Memphis Grizzlies (26-15) Friday night at the Frost Bank Center. San Antonio and Memphis will play the final game of a back-to-back set. GAME REWIND The Spurs lost at home to the Grizzlies 129-115.

It took less than a second. Victor Wembanyama, lined up at center court across from the only player in the NBA taller than him per official measur

SAN ANTONIO ... had 23. Julian Champagnie added two. Head coach Gregg Popovich was also out due to illness, and Jeremy Sochan was out due to back issues. Assistant coach Mitch Johnson assumed head coaching duties for the game. The Spurs are 19-19 ...

However, behind Wembanyama, the Spurs don't really have a high-level second option. Devin Vassell once flashed that potential, but after his lackluster start to the season, it's clear that his ceiling is as a third or fourth option on a good team.

(AP Photo/David Zalubowski) San Antonio Spurs center Victor Wembanyama, left, greets forward Julian Champagnie, right, while taking the court for an NBA basketball game against the Denver Nuggets, Friday, Jan. 3, 2025, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski ...