Getty Image
Chase Budinger has one of the most incredible Olympic stories at the 2024 Paris Games. The former hooper turned to beach volleyball following a seven-year NBA career, landing a spot in the field this summer.
On Monday, he and teammate Miles Evans picked up a win in their first ever event. They did so while facing Team France underneath the Eiffel Tower!
Budinger’s volleyball talents have been known dating back to his time in high school. In fact, he was named Volleyball Magazine’s National Player of the Year in 2006 before opting to take the basketball route in college.
Also a McDonald’s All-American on the hardwood, he played for Arizona before being drafted with a second-round selection in 2009.
After playing seven seasons for four NBA teams, he called it a career. That retirement gave him the chance to turn the attention back to volleyball.
The return to the sport has paid off.
Budinger earned a spot in the Olympic field earlier this year, and he arrived in Paris with much fanfare.
The former hooper received a warm welcome from Team USA’s basketball stars, including Kevin Durant and LeBron James.
View this post on Instagram
Not long after, he got set to play his first match.
Chase Budinger and Miles Evans defeated France under the Eiffel Tower!
The duo squared off against the host country on Sunday, in a location they called “iconic.”
View this post on Instagram
That venue was motivation for the team’s run to the Olympics.
“We knew that this was the venue before our journey started,” Budinger said while speaking with Richard Jefferson on the Road Trippin’ podcast. “We used it as motivation. We took a picture, put it up on our walls, and were like, ‘Look at this every single day.’
“This is the dream to play here. Literally, you are right under the Eiffel Tower. It’s going to be so amazing… It could go down as one of the best venues ever.”
While the pair was in awe of the setting, the lights wouldn’t be too bright!
Budinger and Evans showed out in their debut, upsetting Team France in Game 1 with a two-set sweep.
View this post on Instagram
There were no first match jitters for Chase Budinger. He and Miles Evans will look to keep the incredible story going in Paris with an eye on a potential medal.