Julian Champagnie, the Spurs’ iron man with an unbelievable 185-game streak, finally got to kick back and watch a game in street clothes Wednesday night as San Antonio took down Phoenix 123-103. This wasn’t just any regular rest day, it was a moment coach Mitch Johnson had specifically circled for his most durable players, and frankly, it was long overdue.
The Iron Men Get Their Due (And A Night Off)
Champagnie wasn’t alone watching the action from the sidelines. Keldon Johnson, another absolute workhorse for the Spurs, joined him in street clothes, along with Luke Kornet. For these guys, a night off, even in the preseason, is a pretty rare event. Remember Monday night? Victor Wembanyama, Stephon Castle, Dylan Harper, and Devin Vassell all got to rest during that 119-109 loss to Utah. Now it was Champagnie and Johnson’s turn, and you just know Mitch Johnson was smart to make it happen. He said it was “particularly important” to give them a break, especially after what they pulled off last season. Coach Johnson put it best, “They don’t take games off during the regular season, so it’d be nice to give them a game (off) when it doesn’t actually count and do the same thing for Luke.” Good call, coach, especially with Kornet apparently “getting in shape.”
Streaks That Shout “Built Different”
Let’s talk about why these two getting a break is such a big deal. Julian Champagnie played in every single one of the 82 regular season games last year, and then every single playoff game too. And get this: he didn’t miss a single game in the 2024-25 season either. The last time this dude sat out a game was way back on March 3, 2024. That means he’s heading into this season with an active streak of 185 consecutive games played, which is the second-longest in the entire league! That’s just wild. Then there’s Keldon Johnson, who not only played all 82 games last season but did it without a single start. And he didn’t just show up, he absolutely balled out, winning the 2026 Sixth Man of the Year award. He’s only the second NBA player in the last decade to play all 82 games without ever starting. That’s a serious flex right there.
The Spurs are now looking forward to their preseason finale against Sacramento on Friday night at the Frost Bank Center. Coach Mitch Johnson is hoping to have “as many healthy bodies as possible” for what he called a “best rehearsal.” You gotta respect the grind, but you also gotta know when to hit pause, and the Spurs are doing just that for their iron men before the real games count.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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