Olympian Chase Budinger Hasn't Seen 1 NBA Player Who Can Transition to Pro Volleyball

Former NBA player and professional beach volleyball player Chase Budinger, who competed in last year's Summer Olympics for Team USA, had an honest response when asked whether he thought any NBA players he's played beach volleyball with could make a transition to that sport on a professional level.

"Zero," Budinger replied. "None. But there has been a few guys that have impressed me. Richard Jefferson, J.J. Barea, Bake Griffin, were just some of the few that have come out and played with and can compete and have fun with it, but not the level that we play at."

To be clear, the question posed to Budinger about a transition to the pros was regarding any basketball players he's played volleyball with, not necessarily any NBA player in general.

In theory, perhaps someone like 7'3" San Antonio Spurs center Victor Wembanyama could become a pro superstar if he focused and trained for the sport.

Budinger made the switch in 2017 after playing professional hoops for eight years (seven in the NBA). The former University of Arizona star was a phenomenal high school volleyball player, winning Volleyball Magazine's Mizuno National Player of the Year award and winning three state titles for La Costa Canyon High School (Carlsbad, CA). He also starred in basketball and chose that path before returning to volleyball.

He's done quite well for himself, playing the sport at the highest international level. The 37-year-old teamed up with Miles Evans in the men's beach volleyball tournament at the Olympics. They advanced to the knockout round after finishing third in group play and winning their "lucky losers" match.

In the Round of 16, Budinger and Evans fell to the eventual bronze medalists, Norway's Anders Mol and Christian Sorum.