Justin Champagnie has plenty to prove heading into next season with the Washington Wizards.
After countless stops in the league, between his time with the Toronto Raptors, Boston Celtics and eventually ending up in the DMV, the former Pittsburgh standout has constantly dealt with the feeling that he wasn't good enough to stick on an NBA roster and can you blame him?
From being waived, spending countless hours in the G-League hoping to impress one of the 30 teams in the league and finally getting the call to show what he has to offer in D.C., Champagnie has a chip on his shoulder that only drives him to prove he belongs.
However, proving he belongs isn't where his journey comes to an end and if it is, it would only go to show the chip on his shoulder wasn't big enough.
And although his NBA career didn't start out as hearing his name called in the first round of the NBA Draft, or immediately finding a role in a team's rotation, Champagnie is one step closer to silencing the critics.
Throughout stretched with the Wizards last season, the versatile scoring forward impressed not only head coach Brian Keefe, but the front office enough to earn a multi-year contract moving forward.
With a standard roster spot locked in, Champagnie can finally relax and focus on putting the work in to improve his positioning on the roster, rather than clawing for the chance to prove he belongs on a roster.
Champagnie hasn't spent enough time in the league to draw NBA comparisons, at least not until this past season.
Now, with the forward drawing comparisons to Indiana Pacers star Pascal Siakam, the Wizards' fanbase could be in store for yet another reason to be optimistic heading into next season.
Siakam, is another example of a player who has put the work in to continually improve and find a role in the NBA.
Unlike Champagnie, Siakam's role is much larger and that comes as credit to his work ethic and ability to put the time in, develop his craft and prove he can be the leader of a team.
Fresh off leading the Indiana Pacers to the NBA Finals, drawing a comparison to Siakam should not only add fuel to Chamagnie's fire to continue working, but also give fans hope he could take another leap forward this coming season.
And with Champagnie set to learn under another veteran forward who had a similar career path of his own in Khris Middleton, there's no reason the former undrafted playmaker can't be the next success story in the NBA.