Former NBA player Chase Budinger makes Olympic debut in beach volleyball
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Team USA's Chase Budinger attempts to block a shot at the net. Photo: Michael Reaves/Getty Images
Former NBA player Chase Budinger, 36, made his Olympic debut in a different sport, winning his opening beach volleyball match Monday at the foot of the Eiffel Tower.
Why it matters: The San Diego area native made history as the first athlete to play in the NBA and on an Olympic beach volleyball team.
Catch up quick: Budinger spent seven seasons in the NBA playing with the Houston Rockets, Minnesota Timberwolves, Indiana Pacers and Phoenix Suns.
- The 6-7 forward also played a year in Spain before retiring in 2017 and finding his second act in the sand.
- He kept his beach volleyball skills sharp throughout his basketball career playing with former NBA stars Steve Nash and Blake Griffin during the offseason, USA Today reported.
Flashback: Growing up in Encinitas, Budinger started playing beach volleyball around 14 years old, often at Moonlight State Beach — a popular spot for local talent.
- He was a top recruit in volleyball and basketball at La Costa Canyon High School in Carlsbad, getting offered college scholarships for both sports.
- A five-star basketball recruit in the 2006 class, Budinger was named the co-MVP of McDonald's All-American Game with Kevin Durant, who has three Olympic gold medals for USA basketball.
- Budinger chose to pursue hoops at the University of Arizona, where he played for three seasons, leading the Wildcats to the Sweet 16 before getting picked No. 44 overall in the 2009 NBA draft.
Fun fact: He pulled off a blindfolded slam in the 2012 NBA dunk contest.
State of play: Budinger's switch to play in the Association of Volleyball Professionals league in 2018 produced lifestyle changes that meant biking to and from the beach for practice, he told ESPN.
- To achieve his childhood goal of making the Olympics, he sought out Olympians as partners to help him grow his game, including Sean Rosenthal and Casey Patterson.
- He earned rookie of the year and most-improved player accolades, plus an AVP title with Rosenthal in 2019.
- Budinger and partner Miles Evans qualified for the 2024 Olympics with in June. The pair is ranked second in the U.S. and 13th in the world.
What's next: Watch Budinger and Evans take on the Netherlands on Tuesday at 11am.