Chase Budinger's Multifaceted Athletic Journey Meets Olympic Challenge
The 2024 Paris Olympics saw many seasoned athletes take the stage, but few have traversed a path quite like Chase Budinger. The former NBA player turned beach volleyball competitor found himself matched against the world's elite alongside his partner Miles Evans. Their journey in the beach volleyball competition faced an early conclusion when they were eliminated in the Round of 16 by Norway's defending champions, Anders Mol and Christian Sorum, in straight sets, 21-16, 21-14.
Budinger, who hails from Carlsbad, Calif., first came into the public eye during his basketball career. Selected in the second round of the 2009 NBA Draft, he began his professional journey with the Houston Rockets. A few years later, in 2012, Budinger was traded to the Minnesota Timberwolves, and subsequently to the Indiana Pacers and Phoenix Suns. His basketball career concluded in 2017, but his retirement from the hardwood opened the door to new opportunities. The transition to professional beach volleyball might seem unconventional to some, but for Budinger, it’s been a thrilling challenge.
The road to the Paris Olympics was anything but straightforward. Budinger and Evans secured their spot in the competition by ascending the points rankings and qualifying in June. Their Olympic journey commenced on a high note, with a victory over a French duo. However, subsequent losses to teams from the Netherlands and Spain in straight sets placed them in a precarious position. Undeterred, they clinched a critical win in the "lucky losers" round against an Australian team, which earned them a chance to compete in the Round of 16.
Reflecting on his Olympic experience, Budinger shared, "Playing in the Olympics, playing in this venue, will definitely be up there with some of my greatest basketball moments, for sure. My first couple of matches, stepping onto the court with 12,000 people cheering ... it was just an incredible atmosphere. Playing underneath the lights, underneath the Eiffel Tower, which was sparkling -- you can't replicate these type of memories that we'll have."
Despite their efforts, the match against Mol and Sorum highlighted the formidable challenge the reigning Olympic champions posed. Mol and Sorum, who secured gold in the Tokyo Games, delivered a powerful performance, underscoring their status as one of the premier teams in the sport. The 21-16, 21-14 defeat was a testament to their dominance on the sand.
In the midst of their spirited campaign, Budinger and Evans' journey was parallel to another American men's beach volleyball duo. Miles Partain and Andrew Benesh advanced to the quarterfinals with a victory over Italy's Samuele Cottafava and Paolo Nicolai in straight sets, 21-17, 21-18. This success reflected the depth of talent within the U.S. beach volleyball ranks and offered a silver lining for American fans.
As Budinger looks forward, he is mindful of the toll that years of intense athletic competition can take on the body. "I'll be old as dirt. I've always said it's really up to my body. And I take it year by year of how my body's feeling. Right now, I can say my body's been feeling great," he remarked, hinting at a focus on longevity and physical well-being.
With the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics on the horizon, potentially slated to unfold in Santa Monica, the West Coast could offer a compelling stage for Budinger and Evans should they continue their athletic pursuits. For now, the experience in Paris stands as a remarkable chapter in Budinger's multifaceted athletic career.