One of the most interesting stories of the summer is that former NBA player Chase Budinger is an Olympian in an entirely different sport.
Budinger, who was named Co-MVP of the McDonald’s All-American Game with Kevin Durant in 2006, played basketball professionally from 2009 until 2017.
After spending one year hooping overseas after retiring from the NBA, he began to focus on a different sport. He now represents Team USA in beach volleyball.
This didn’t come out of nowhere, though, as Budinger led his high school La Costa Canyon to win three state volleyball championships in California.
He was also named as the Mizuno National Player of the Year by Volleyball Magazine. Now an Olympian, he and his doubles partner Miles Evans won their first match against France in straight sets.
Former NBA player Chase Budinger just won his FIRST match at the #Olympics as a member of Team USA men's beach volleyball 🇺🇸🏐 pic.twitter.com/PHp55j3WW1
For the Paris Olympics this summer, For The Win is helping you get to know some of the star Olympians competing on the world’s biggest stage. We’re highlighting 15 Team USA athletes in the 15 days leading up to the Opening Ceremony. Up next is Chase Budinger
We’ve seen athletes show up at the Olympics after specializing in other sports before. That’s not necessarily unique.
For example, there’ve been several Olympians from the NFL who have made the crossover before. But it’s not just an athlete making that crossover that’s special — it’s actually how good the athlete is at the other sport.
That’s why the story of Chase Budinger, the volleyball player, is so incredible.
If you’ve watched the NBA before, you probably recognize that name. Budinger put together a solid career in the league before retiring. These days, he’s traded in the orange round ball for a white one. Budinger is one of the United States’ best volleyball players.
Here’s everything you need to know about Team USA’s budding volleyball star. Get it? Budding? Sorry about that. Let’s get into it.
1. Chase Budinger had a lengthy NBA career
Robert Hanashiro-USA TODAY
Budinger had a pretty solid NBA career from 2009 to 2016. He appeared in games for the Rockets, Timberwolves, Suns and Pacers before continuing to play ball overseas in Spain.
He averaged a solid 7.9 points per game through 407 NBA games played. Obviously, that’s not a superstar-level career. But it’s still pretty good! He made just more than $18 million through his NBA career.
2. He was a McDonald’s All-American
Arizona’s Chase Budinger throws down a break away dunk against University of Louisville in the 1st half in the NCAA Men’s Midwest Regional semi final in Indianapolis, IN on Friday, March 27, 2009.JULIAN H. GONZALEZ/Detroit Free Press
Chase wasn’t a slouch coming into the NBA. He may have been more of a role player in the league, but he was one of the best high school prospects coming into his class, averaging 34 points and 11 rebounds per game.
Jun 19, 2024; Hermosa Beach, Calif., USA: Chase Budinger spikes the ball during a morning training session at Hermosa Beach, Calif. on Jue 19, 2024. Budinger is a former collegiate and NBA basketball player who has made the Olympic Beach Volleyball Team. Mandatory Credit: Robert Hanashiro-USA TODAY
Budinger was a two-sport athlete in high school. He may have been just as good at volleyball as he was at basketball.
He led his team to three state championships and was named National High School Player of the Year by Volleyball Magazine, according to this profile from USA TODAY’s Jordan Mendoza.
Volleyball was a bit of a family trade for the Budingers. Both his brother and sister, Duncan and Brittanie, played volleyball professionally. Brittanie is even in the Hall of Honor for the West Coast Conference.
Budinger told the Indianapolis Star that part of his plan was to “play beach volleyball when basketball was over.” Here he is, doing it at a high level.
4. He’s an elite dunker
These hops are the reason he’s so good at volleyball. This reel of him dunking will absolutely get you out of your seat today.
He was so good as a dunker he participated in the 2012 NBA Dunk Contest and was pretty solid. He’s putting those hops to use elsewhere these days.
Chase Budinger spent three seasons playing College Basketball at Arizona and played 100 games in his career. He was a consistent force for the Wildcats and scored 17 points per game in his career. The UCLA Bruins saw him many times, and he was consistently a thorn in the side of the Bruins. Budinger was the 44th overall pick in the NBA Draft by the Detroit Pistons.
Now the former Wildcat, at the age of 36, will be partaking in the Paris Olympics this summer. Earlier this week, he clinched a spot with the US Olympic Beach Volleyball team.
The Paris Olympics 2024 is slated to start on July 24th, 2024, and run through August 11th, 2024. The Beach Volleyball is expected to start on July 27th and wrap up on August 10th. The complete schedule for the US team has yet to be announced.
Really cool that former Arizona standout Chase Budinger, who played 7 years in the NBA, clinched the last U.S. Olympic beach volleyball spot and will play in the Paris Olympics.
Budinger retired from hoops in 2017 and started playing pro beach volleyball in 2018.
