Former Timberwolves Player Makes USA Olympic Team… for Volleyball

Remember former Minnesota Timberwolves player Chase Budinger? Whether his name rings a bell or not, his post NBA retirement story is, not just remarkable, it’s made him an Olympian, something his basketball career never did.

This summer, at 36-years-old, Budinger will represent the United States at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris as one half of a beach volleyball pairing, with his teammate, Miles Evans.

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

— Justin Spears (@JustinESports) June 5, 2024

When Budinger retired from basketball in 2017, he did so with a clear purpose to devote himself to beach volleyball. Years later, that dedication has paid off. But it’s not like Chase was new to the sport of volleyball, when he started working toward this dream, post basketball retirement.

In high school, Chase was recognized as one of the nation’s top athletes, excelling in both basketball and volleyball. In fact, he thought very seriously about originally pursuing volleyball over basketball, but thankfully made the correct decision. His basketball career made him rich, allowing him to now be an olympic volleyballer.

Chase Budinger’s basketball career included the Minnesota Timberwolves

In the 2009 NBA Draft, the Houston Rockets picked Chase Budinger as the 44th overall selection. He quickly established himself as a reliable player, averaging more than 20 minutes per game throughout his three seasons with the team.

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In the summer of 2012, Chase Budinger was traded to the Minnesota Timberwolves. He played three more seasons with the Timberwolves, averaging 9.4 points per game in his first season, which turned out to be his best with the team. After his stint in Minnesota, the Timberwolves traded him to the Indiana Pacers, where he played for a season. Budinger then signed with the Phoenix Suns, which marked his final full season in the NBA in 2016.

The finals still aren’t on for another 32 hours… screw it Chase Budinger Highlights #nba pic.twitter.com/ACotNGW7Gy

— Derek Smith (@Derek_DCS) June 5, 2024