Justin Champagnie on his favourite players, bagged milk & little brother Julian

Toronto Raptors forward Justin Champagnie discusses his favourite basketball players, teammates he gels with the best and some of the weirdest things he's encountered since moving to Canada. Follow Yahoo Sports Canada for all your Raptors coverage.

Video Transcript

AMIT MANN: Has this year been surprising in any way with I guess the way in which they invest in development?

JUSTIN CHAMPAGNIE: Oh, I don't know. It's everything I expected. You know, these guys are on me every day try to gain in the gym, be here early, stay late, get extra shots and it pays off. It works. You know, I feel the change in my game, in my body, and I appreciate, commend these guys so much for helping me get to where I'm at now.

AMIT MANN: 100 3's a day, still?

JUSTIN CHAMPAGNIE: Still 100 3's, 200 3's. I really try to shoot 200 a day. Depending on this game, I'd probably just get up to 100. But every day we hit get in, get the work in.

AMIT MANN: You and Pascal, is it just you two doing it or is-- are you taking it solo?

JUSTIN CHAMPAGNIE: I normally do by my-- I do it by myself, me and Pascal play one on one before the game like a little like, you know, a game of three. He shoots, I play defense because you know, that's my role. That's his role.

AMIT MANN: Yeah. I mean, I feel like you're really good at accepting your role. Like I don't think at this moment because of-- maybe you've realized this that this juncture of your NBA career that time has probably come for you. But right now, it's just like doing what's asked of you. And I think that's a thing that's kind of rough for some players at this stage of their careers because they want to do more but it's not necessarily what the team needs. How are you able to balance that?

JUSTIN CHAMPAGNIE: I don't [INAUDIBLE]. It's rough sometimes. You know, like, knowing that you're capable of doing certain things. But like this is what the team needs you to do. But it's all about a mindset. Like, no one [INAUDIBLE]. This is about longevity. This is not about one, two years, like-- that'll come. They'll ask you to do more, and more, and more as time goes on.

So just accepting the role, embracing it. That's the biggest thing, embracing it, you know. Falling in love with it and just going out there and competing, really. That's just all it is, you know. I know a lot of young guys, especially like, you know, myself. You know, you wanna-- you wanna do more. But like just staying focused and zoned in on what you gotta do right now. And then as time goes on you build, you build, you build, and you sweat up on it.

- Champagnie on the outside. Oh, the undrafted rookie in the University of Pittsburgh, New York City tough on the inside.

AMIT MANN: What have been the weirdest parts about moving to Canada? I know [INAUDIBLE] was like really thrown off by the bagged milk like a few months ago. Has there been anything else that's made you go like, wow, so this is Canada. OK.

JUSTIN CHAMPAGNIE: Really the bagged milk is just sick to me. I don't understand it. I don't get it. I don't get why you would put milk in a bag or any type of liquid--

AMIT MANN: You can get it in a carton, right? You've seen it.

JUSTIN CHAMPAGNIE: No. No. I have the cartons. It's only the ones I buy, it's the cartons. But milk in a bag is just too much for me. I don't know. I don't know where that became a thing. What else? Some of the brands are different, like the food brands. It's not all the same as the US but it's really just the bagged milk that's killing me, honest to God. Everyone's so nice. Everyone's very nice in Canada. In New York everyone's mean. So that's about it. But it's the bag of milk, seriously.

AMIT MANN: That's it.

JUSTIN CHAMPAGNIE: That's the change. That's it.

AMIT MANN: People say everyone's so nice in Canada but like I don't know. I mean, I don't find people that nice. But hey, like maybe I haven't lived in New York, either so maybe that's why.

JUSTIN CHAMPAGNIE: I think it's more like when people come from like, out of Canada and they come to Canada, then it's like everyone's nice. But when you live here, it's like, oh, this is regular. Like in New York though, everyone's mean. Like there's no [INAUDIBLE] respectful.

AMIT MANN: No kidding.

JUSTIN CHAMPAGNIE: [INAUDIBLE].

AMIT MANN: I've been to New York once and it was very nice, actually. But I mean, [INAUDIBLE] you're going no better than I do. Head down, chin up, what does that mean to you?

JUSTIN CHAMPAGNIE: That actually is my college coach Jeff Capel, his dad used to say that to him. Like as a phrase. It's just a matter of just like, you know, keep your head down and just putting in the work. But like always know who you are by, you know what I'm saying? Keeping your chin up like mentally. You know, like, just staying focused and knowing who you are and knowing what you're capable of doing, you know. But just keep your head down and just work, work, work until it's your time to, you know, to shine.

AMIT MANN: That's great. And you're doing that, no question about that. Did you have to pay your fine with the little scuffle you had with PJ Washington or did someone cover that for you?

JUSTIN CHAMPAGNIE: I'm paying it. It's coming out-- it's coming out my check, monthly. You know, it hurts but you know I take it on, you know what I'm saying? I take it in and I do what I do, and I pay it.

AMIT MANN: Yeah, I mean, some decide to give you a [INAUDIBLE] when you were on your way out. So I think-- I mean, responsibility for your actions, I guess, right?

JUSTIN CHAMPAGNIE: Yeah, you know, it was just-- it's a learning lesson for me. You know, I shouldn't have reacted that way even though I felt like I was, you know, provoked. But you know, I take it. It's my fault, you know.

AMIT MANN: It'd be what it'd be.

JUSTIN CHAMPAGNIE: [INAUDIBLE] and keep moving.

AMIT MANN: Yeah. A few more for you and I'll let you go. Who's your favorite basketball player?

JUSTIN CHAMPAGNIE: My brother.

AMIT MANN: Yeah.

JUSTIN CHAMPAGNIE: Yeah 100%. I think he's a great player. I love watching him play. I find like a tremendous amount of joy in watching [INAUDIBLE] play. But like growing up, it was LeBron now it's my brother.

AMIT MANN: No question. You saw him play a few weeks ago, how was that?

JUSTIN CHAMPAGNIE: That was a great-- I've never-- I've never seen him play in [INAUDIBLE]. That was the first time I got to watch him play live in college and it was great. I told him, I said you better go for 30. I'm not expecting nothing less than 30 and he went out there and he had 31. So it was great to see the, you know, the joy he played with when I was there. And just getting to interact with him while he was on the court. Like telling him like little things I had to-- when saying where to move to and like, you know. It was just-- this is a great overall experience. It was fun. Great atmosphere. He killed. The team won by a lot. It was fun. It's good to be back home and watch him play.

AMIT MANN: I heard you were taunting him though?

JUSTIN CHAMPAGNIE: I was. I was talking to him. I told him [INAUDIBLE]. I told him that. He missed a shot I said, oh, you stink. And him saying, you got to make that. But you know, and then he came down and he made a 3 right in that same corner.

AMIT MANN: There you go.

JUSTIN CHAMPAGNIE: And then comparing to me and I was like [INAUDIBLE] there you go, that's more like it.

AMIT MANN: That's that older brother mentality right there.

JUSTIN CHAMPAGNIE: Yes, sir. Definitely is.

AMIT MANN: What teammate do you gel with the most on the Raptors?

JUSTIN CHAMPAGNIE: On like, I mean, of the court Dalano is my dogs. Like me and Dalano, like we're always together. You know, always move together, you know, as one. Pascal is my, you know what I'm saying? He's like a big brother to me. Like that's my guy right there. He always giving me a little pointers here and there when I'm on the court when I get those little minutes here and there. Even before the game, like even off the court, like whenever. Like those are my guy. I really mess with everybody, everybody is my guy. But off the court it will be DB, that's my dogs. And Scottie, and Isaac, and David. Really the rookies are my guys.

AMIT MANN: Exactly.

JUSTIN CHAMPAGNIE: 100%.

AMIT MANN: And has Dalano taken you to [INAUDIBLE] yet?

JUSTIN CHAMPAGNIE: No, I haven't been [INAUDIBLE]. I mean, have I? I think for his birthday I think it was close by [INAUDIBLE], I don't know. But I've never been. I've never been.

AMIT MANN: Let it go.