The former basketball player, who spent seven years in the NBA with four different teams, now finds himself in the shadow of the Eiffel Tower, competing at the Olympics in a different sport entirely. Budinger is a professional beach volleyball player these days, and alongside Team USA partner Miles Evans, is hoping for a deep run at the Games in Paris. Drafted by the Detroit Piston in 2009, he went on to play more than 400 NBA games with Houston Rockets, Minnesota Timberwolves, Indiana Pacers, and Phoenix Suns. A brief stint in Spain followed, after which Budinger decided to leave basketball and return to beach volleyball, making his professional debut in 2018. But he also draws on his experience of playing in the NBA when he’s out on the beach volleyball court, particularly when it comes to dealing with pressure.

---

Persons: Paris CNN — Chase, Miles Evans, “ It’s, it’s, ” Budinger, I’m, ”, “, Spain's Adrián Gavira, Kyle Terada, Reuters Budinger, Budinger, Evans, “ Chase, we’ve, Spain’s Pablo Herrera, Adrián Gavira Organizations: Paris CNN, NBA, Eiffel, Team USA, Games, Paris, Spain, Friday, USA, Sports, Reuters, University of Arizona, Detroit Piston, Houston Rockets, Minnesota Timberwolves, Indiana Pacers, Phoenix Suns, Olympics, NBC, France Locations: Paris, California, Spain, Netherlands