Photo credit should read Essene Hernandez/ Eyepix Group/Future Publishing via Getty Images
Former NBA forward Chase Budinger will represent the United States in men’s beach volleyball at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris.
Tape Media shared a video of Budinger and volleyball partner Miles Evans learning they qualified for the Summer Games.
Justin Spears @JustinESports
Former Arizona basketball star Chase Budinger just secured one of the final spots on the U.S. Olympic beach volleyball roster! 🇺🇸🏐
Budinger and teammate Miles Evans are going to Paris this summer!
(🎥 Tape Media/IG) pic.twitter.com/rS7Spvc4OK
Under the Olympic qualifying rules, the United States was afforded up to two teams as long as they finished among the top 17 in the provisional rankings.
On the men’s side, the pair of Miles Partain and Andy Benesh were all but assured of a spot thanks to sitting fifth in the FIVB world ranking. The last berth came down to a battle between Budinger/Evans and the tandem of Theo Brunner and Trevor Crabb.
This will be Budinger’s first appearance in the Olympics.
The 36-year-old had a solid career on the hardwood. He averaged 17.0 points and 5.8 rebounds in his three seasons at Arizona. Then he spent seven years in the NBA across spells with the Houston Rockets, Minnesota Timberwolves, Indiana Pacers and Phoenix Suns.
Budinger’s volleyball skills were routinely cited, though, to the point where some thought it was his best sport. He was the Mizuno Player of the Year in boys’ volleyball in 2006 and held Olympic ambitions back then.
