From NBA Hardwood to Olympic Sand: Chase Budinger’s Volleyball Comeback Story… Read more…
In a sports world where athletes are often confined to a single discipline, Chase Budinger is breaking the mold. Once an explosive small forward in the NBA, Budinger has made a remarkable pivot—trading the hardwood for beach volleyball courts. Now, in 2025, he stands on the cusp of Olympic glory as one of the top American beach volleyball players heading into the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
What started as a childhood passion has turned into a professional second act. Budinger’s journey from basketball arenas to Olympic sand is not only unusual but also inspirational.
A Two-Sport Star from the Beginning
Before the NBA, before the Olympics, Chase Budinger was already a volleyball prodigy. Born in Encinitas, California, in 1988, he was a two-sport standout at La Costa Canyon High School. Budinger was named the 2006 National Volleyball Player of the Year by Volleyball Magazine, all while averaging 30 points per game in basketball.
Despite receiving scholarship offers for both sports, Budinger ultimately chose basketball, enrolling at the University of Arizona and entering the NBA draft in 2009. He was selected 44th overall by the Detroit Pistons and spent seven seasons in the NBA with the Houston Rockets, Minnesota Timberwolves, and Indiana Pacers.
Still, volleyball never left him.
Retiring from Basketball, Reclaiming Volleyball
In 2017, Budinger quietly retired from professional basketball. Rather than take a conventional route of coaching or broadcasting, he returned to his volleyball roots—this time in beach volleyball.
The transition wasn’t easy. While his athleticism, height (6’7″), and vertical leap were undeniable assets, the beach game has its own technical nuances. “It was humbling at first,” Budinger admitted in a 2024 interview with The Guardian. “I had to start from scratch again, learning footwork, positioning, and teamwork in a completely different context.”
Partnering with established beach players helped accelerate his growth. He first teamed with Sean Rosenthal, an Olympic veteran, and later with Casey Patterson. But it was his recent partnership with Miles Evans that turned heads on the world stage.
Rise to Olympic Qualification
By 2023, Budinger and Evans had become a formidable duo on the FIVB Beach Volleyball World Tour. They posted several top-10 finishes in Elite 16 and Challenge events and climbed the U.S. Olympic qualification rankings rapidly.
Their big breakthrough came in early 2024 at a Beach Pro Tour Challenge event in Saquarema, Brazil, where they finished second—earning critical points toward Olympic qualification. Budinger’s offensive presence at the net, paired with Evans’ speed and defense, created a balanced and strategic team.
In April 2024, USA Volleyball confirmed Budinger and Evans had qualified as one of two U.S. men’s beach volleyball teams heading to Paris 2024.
Training and Preparation for Paris
Preparing for the Olympics is an entirely different grind. Budinger, now 36, follows a rigorous training schedule that includes weight training, sand workouts, strategy sessions, and recovery routines.
“Volleyball uses a different set of muscles and stamina,” he said. “This isn’t just about jumping. It’s about core strength, lateral movement, and reacting to weather, wind, and opponent tendencies.”
He also credits the mental approach he learned in the NBA with giving him an edge. “I’ve played in front of 20,000 people, under pressure, in playoff games. That helps when the match is tight and the crowd is loud,” Budinger noted.
Budinger’s Impact on the Sport
Chase Budinger’s transition to beach volleyball isn’t just a personal redemption story—it’s a media and fan magnet for a sport often overshadowed in the U.S. His NBA past attracts new audiences, while his performance on the sand legitimizes him among purists.
USA Volleyball has leaned into his celebrity status, featuring Budinger in promotional videos, Olympic previews, and cross-sport interviews. His story was even featured in ESPN’s “Beyond the Court” docuseries, which follows athletes pursuing second careers after the NBA.
Younger players are also taking note. Budinger’s example demonstrates that elite athleticism can transcend sports—and that late-career shifts, though rare, can succeed with discipline and humility.
The Bigger Picture: U.S. Beach Volleyball in 2025
The U.S. has a rich history in beach volleyball, with legends like Phil Dalhausser, Todd Rogers, and Kerri Walsh Jennings setting high standards. With Budinger and Evans, the new generation is looking to restore American dominance.
At Paris 2024, Team USA’s men’s beach volleyball campaign is expected to be competitive. Alongside the other U.S. team (Theo Brunner and Trevor Crabb), Budinger and Evans are considered dark horses capable of upsetting powerhouses like Norway’s Mol/Sorum or Qatar’s Cherif/Ahmed.
If Budinger earns a medal, it would make him one of the few athletes in history to compete professionally in both the NBA and the Olympics—a feat rarely achieved outside of crossover stars like Michael Jordan (baseball) and Bo Jackson (football/baseball).
Conclusion: A Second Act Worth Watching
In a world obsessed with early specialization and narrow career paths, Chase Budinger reminds us that it’s never too late to chase your first love. His path from NBA highlight reels to Olympic sand isn’t just remarkable—it’s refreshing.
He’s proven that passion, when combined with elite talent and relentless discipline, can defy expectations—and maybe even make history in Paris.
As he put it best in a recent interview:
“I had a great run in basketball. But this—this is the dream I never got to finish. And now I get to do it on the biggest stage in the world.”
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