Who is Chase Budinger? Meet ex-NBA star and once a co-MVP with Kevin Durant now competing in Olympics beach volleyball
For basketball fans from the mid-2000s to mid-2010s, the name Chase Budinger may ring a bell. The 36-year-old athlete is now set to feature in the 2024 Paris Olympics, but don't expect to spot him in a sleeveless basketball jersey. In a stunning twist, Budinger will actually be representing the USA in beach volleyball this summer.
Being a two-sport athlete is not an easy task. Bo Jackson and Deion Sanders were able to pull it off (playing professional baseball and football at a high level), but even the great Michael Jordan had difficulties juggling two sports.
At 6-foot-7 and approximately 200 pounds, Chase Budinger is a natural athlete who has been able to use his basketball training to successfully transform into one of the world's elite beach volleyball players.
At La Costa Canyon High School, Budinger showed signs early on that he was a gifted athlete. He had exceptional hand-eye coordination and a remarkable vertical leap to match. Budinger was selected to play in the McDonald's All-American game and was named the 2006 Co-MVP alongside Kevin Durant after a strong outing.
Although he had the opportunity to pursue volleyball early in his career, the California native eventually opted to play basketball at the University of Arizona. Over three seasons with the Wildcats, the forward averaged 18 points, 6.2 rebounds and 2.8 assists over 100 games.
His strong numbers in college garnered interest from NBA teams and he was eventually selected with the no. 44 pick by the Detroit Pistons (the pick was traded to the Houston Rockets shortly after. Over nine seasons in the pros, Budinger featured in over 400 games, racking up 3,198 points, 1,240 rebounds and 473 assists.
Chase Budinger is using his NBA experience as he prepares for the Olympic Games
Chase Budinger and Miles Evans are set to represent the USA at the Olympics after earning the last spot for beach volleyball. For Budinger, however, volleyball is not just a hobby. He excelled at the sport at the high school level and has continued to develop his game over the years.
Preparation is key for any Olympian. NBA players like LeBron James surround themselves with some of the best trainers in the world and that has obviously rubbed off on Budinger. In a recent interview with Yahoo Sports, Budinger spoke about his preparations for the Olympics and what he has taken from his NBA experience.
"I just really try to take away my work ethic that I had in basketball and really just translate it over to beach volleyball. ... of really just being like, you know what this is my profession, this is my job," said Budinger.
The last time a US men's team won a medal in beach volleyball was in 2008. Chase Budinger will need to be at his best and will utilize all his training and experience from previous years as he looks to break that streak.