For the Paris Olympics this summer season, For The Win helps you get to know a number of the star Olympians competing on the world’s largest stage. We’re highlighting 15 Staff USA athletes within the 15 days main as much as the Opening Ceremony. Up subsequent is Chase Budinger
We’ve seen athletes present up on the Olympics after specializing in different sports activities earlier than. That’s not essentially distinctive.
For instance, there’ve been a number of Olympians from the NFL who’ve made the crossover earlier than. But it surely’s not simply an athlete making that crossover that’s particular — it’s really how good the athlete is on the different sport.
That’s why the story of Chase Budinger, the volleyball participant, is so unimaginable.
When you’ve watched the NBA earlier than, you most likely acknowledge that identify. Budinger put collectively a strong profession within the league earlier than retiring. Today, he’s traded within the orange spherical ball for a white one. Budinger is likely one of the United States’ greatest volleyball gamers.
Right here’s all the pieces you might want to learn about Staff USA’s budding volleyball star. Get it? Budding? Sorry about that. Let’s get into it.
1. Chase Budinger had a prolonged NBA profession
Robert Hanashiro-USA TODAY
Budinger had a fairly strong NBA profession from 2009 to 2016. He appeared in video games for the Rockets, Timberwolves, Suns and Pacers earlier than persevering with to play ball abroad in Spain.
He averaged a strong 7.9 factors per recreation by way of 407 NBA video games performed. Clearly, that’s not a superstar-level profession. But it surely’s nonetheless fairly good! He made simply greater than $18 million by way of his NBA profession.
2. He was a McDonald’s All-American
Arizona’s Chase Budinger throws down a break free dunk towards College of Louisville within the 1st half within the NCAA Males’s Midwest Regional semi ultimate in Indianapolis, IN on Friday, March 27, 2009.JULIAN H. GONZALEZ/Detroit Free Press
Chase wasn’t a slouch coming into the NBA. He could have been extra of a task participant within the league, however he was top-of-the-line highschool prospects coming into his class, averaging 34 factors and 11 rebounds per recreation.
Budinger was ranked because the third greatest prospect within the nation for the category of 2006 by Rivals.com. As a freshman at Arizona, he averaged 15.5 factors and was named the Pac-10 Rookie of the Yr.
3. He was a volleyball star, too
Jun 19, 2024; Hermosa Seashore, Calif., USA: Chase Budinger spikes the ball throughout a morning coaching session at Hermosa Seashore, Calif. on Jue 19, 2024. Budinger is a former collegiate and NBA basketball participant who has made the Olympic Seashore Volleyball Staff. Obligatory Credit score: Robert Hanashiro-USA TODAY
Budinger was a two-sport athlete in highschool. He could have been simply nearly as good at volleyball as he was at basketball.
He led his group to 3 state championships and was named Nationwide Excessive College Participant of the Yr by Volleyball Journal, based on this profile from USA TODAY’s Jordan Mendoza.
Volleyball was a little bit of a household commerce for the Budingers. Each his brother and sister, Duncan and Brittanie, performed volleyball professionally. Brittanie is even within the Corridor of Honor for the West Coast Convention.
Budinger informed the Indianapolis Star that a part of his plan was to “play seaside volleyball when basketball was over.” Right here he’s, doing it at a excessive stage.
4. He’s an elite dunker
These hops are the explanation he’s so good at volleyball. This reel of him dunking will completely get you out of your seat at the moment.
He was so good as a dunker he participated within the 2012 NBA Dunk Contest and was fairly strong. He’s placing these hops to make use of elsewhere today.
5. Budinger and Staff USA will play in late July
You’ll be capable of watch Budinger and Staff USA take to the web on July 27 when Staff USA opens its preliminary spherical matchup towards Argentina.
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