Former NBA Player Chase Budinger to Represent USA in Olympic Beach Volleyball

Former NBA player Chase Budinger is set to make his Olympic debut, but not in the sport he's best known for. The 6-foot-7 former small forward has secured his spot to represent the United States in beach volleyball at the upcoming Tokyo Olympics.

Budinger, along with his partner Miles Evans, clinched the second and final men's spot after a disappointing performance by another American duo, Theo Brunner and Trevor Crabb, in the final qualifying tournament. This successful performance solidified Budinger and Evans' position in the Olympic rankings, which will officially be announced on June 10.

While this will be Budinger's first appearance at the Olympic Games, the 36-year-old athlete has a long-standing relationship with volleyball. During his high school years at La Costa Canyon High School in Encinitas, California, Budinger excelled in both basketball and volleyball. In fact, he was named the National High School Player of the Year by "Volleyball Magazine" in 2005 and earned tournament MVP honors at the 2006 USA Volleyball Boys National Championships.

After three years of playing basketball at the University of Arizona, Budinger was drafted by the Detroit Pistons in the second round of the 2009 NBA draft. He went on to play for several teams, including the Houston Rockets, Minnesota Timberwolves, Indiana Pacers, and Phoenix Suns, accumulating a total of 407 career games over seven seasons.

Following his retirement from basketball in 2017, Budinger shifted his focus to pursue his passion for beach volleyball. Since then, he has partnered with various players on the AVP tour, including Sean Rosenthal, Casey Patterson, Chaim Schalk, Troy Field, and finally Miles Evans.

Budinger's journey to represent the United States in Olympic beach volleyball has not been without challenges. In a 2019 interview with Yahoo Sports, he spoke about the difficult decision to leave basketball behind. However, Budinger expressed that the timing aligned with his plans, allowing him to fully commit to beach volleyball.

In addition to his Olympic achievement, Budinger will also be making history by becoming the first athlete to participate in both Olympic beach volleyball and an NBA regular-season game. This notable accomplishment highlights his versatility and dedication to two different disciplines.

Budinger and his partner, Evans, currently hold the 13th spot in the world rankings. They will join Andy Benesh and Miles Partain, ranked fifth, as the representatives for the United States men's beach volleyball team in Tokyo. On the women's side, Kelly Cheng and Sara Hughes, along with Taryn Kloth and Kristen Nuss, will be representing the United States.

As the Olympic Games draw near, Budinger and his fellow beach volleyball competitors are gearing up to showcase their skills on the global stage. Their presence in Tokyo promises an exciting and competitive display of athleticism and determination.