Chase Budinger

Born on May 22, 1988, in Encinitas, California, Chase Budinger distinguished himself early as a multi-sport athlete in basketball and volleyball. During his high school years at La Costa Canyon, he led his basketball team to a CIF San Diego Section title in 2006. Concurrently, he achieved national recognition in volleyball, steering his school to three state championships and being named National Player of the Year by Volleyball Magazine as a senior. Budinger was also a McDonald’s All-American, sharing Co-MVP honors with Kevin Durant in 2006, and was the runner-up in the McDonald’s All-American Slam Dunk Contest. He chose to focus on basketball for his college career, playing for the Arizona Wildcats from 2006 to 2009. During his time at Arizona, he averaged 15.6 points in his freshman season and earned two All-Pac-12 honors, helping the Wildcats reach the Sweet 16 in 2009. He was selected 44th overall in the 2009 NBA draft by the Detroit Pistons and traded to the Houston Rockets on draft night.

Budinger’s NBA career spanned seven years (2009-2016), playing for the Houston Rockets (2009-2012), Minnesota Timberwolves (2012-2015), Indiana Pacers (2015-2016), and Phoenix Suns (2016). A notable moment in his NBA career was his participation in the 2012 Slam Dunk Contest, where he showcased his athleticism. After his NBA tenure, he played overseas for Saski Baskonia in Spain during the 2016-2017 season. In 2017, Budinger retired from professional basketball to pursue a career in beach volleyball. This transition marked a significant shift, as he dedicated himself to adapting to the demands of professional beach volleyball. He made his debut on the AVP tour in 2018 with Sean Rosenthal and later partnered with Casey Patterson in 2019, both experienced Olympians who helped him navigate the new sport. Budinger’s dedication culminated in his qualification for the 2024 Summer Olympic Games in Paris with partner Miles Evans on June 5, 2024. This achievement made him the first person to play a regular-season game in the NBA and compete in an Olympic beach volleyball match. At the Paris Olympics, he and Miles Evans finished in 9th place.

Throughout his beach volleyball career, Budinger has earned several accolades, including a gold medal at the 2023 Haikou World Tour event, silver medals at the 2021 Rubavu, 2022 Nalaguraidhoo, and 2023 Saquarema World Tour events, and a bronze medal at the 2023 Chiang Mai World Tour event. His journey demonstrates a unique career path, moving from a high-level team sport to a demanding individual sport on an international stage. Budinger holds dual American/Latvian citizenship. His family also has a strong background in volleyball, with his older sister, Brittanie, playing professionally in Europe, and his older brother, Duncan, also touring professionally.